A LAST-minute goal from unlikely hero Cale Hooker has helped Essendon to a famous two-point win over bitter rival Hawthorn at the MCG.

The Bombers held a 35-point lead just before half-time but looked set to be overrun for the second successive week, with the Hawks dominating the second half to lead by 16 points midway through the final term. 

But just a week after coughing up a 41-point lead to the Sydney Swans, the Bombers refused to let it happen again and surged to a 12.6 (78) to 11.10 (76) victory.

The win was Essendon's first over Hawthorn since round six, 2010.

Five talking points: Essendon v Hawthorn

It looked as though Hawthorn had things stitched up midway through the final term, with the Bombers seemingly out of run. Key Hawks Jordan Lewis and Brian Lake were having a big say as their teammates finally started to hit forward targets. 

But a goal to Travis Colyer with 1m 20sec remaining changed the game again, putting the Bombers within four points and bringing the red and black faithful to their feet. 

Then Hooker – who had drifted forward – gathered the ball and accurately snapped accurately with 57 seconds to play. 

It proved enough to seal the game – but only just – as the Hawks pressed forward again, only to be beaten by the siren as Luke Breust charged into goal unopposed.

The ball came off his boot two seconds too late, the Hawks slumped to the turf and the Bombers rejoiced. 

Essendon coach James Hird said the win was "significant for a number of reasons" but was realistic about not getting carried away with it.

"From a team point of view, it's essential; we want to be a team that hopefully makes the top four, we want to be successful this year," Hird said.

"To get through the first two rounds with one win, one loss, it gives us a chance to stay in touch with the top four, even already at the start.

"It's round two. We beat the best team in the competition, it's significant for us, but there will be hopefully better wins later in the year we can crow more about."

After emphatically declaring during the week that they could take it up to the Hawks after leading the Swans for so long, the Bombers came out hard in the first half.

Their tackling – led by Jobe Watson and Adam Cooney – was ferocious, they won the contested ball and forced the Hawks into uncharacteristic mistakes. 

Michael Hurley was simply brilliant. Not only did he shut down Jarryd Roughead, restricting him to just one goal for the day, but he ran off his man, amassing 25 disposals and driving the Dons' attack out of the back half.

WATCH: Game-breaker Hurley blankets Roughy

Meanwhile, Cooney continued to press his case for recruit of the year with another impressive performance.

The former Western Bulldog started his day with seven first-quarter touches, was involved in three of the Bombers' first-half goals and carried to finish with 17 disposals.

Watson and Dyson Heppell finished with 33 apiece while Joe Daniher marked strongly and kicked three goals.

Jobe Watson, Michael Hibberd and Adam Cooney celebrate after the final siren. Picture: AFL Media

With Roughead blanketed and the Bombers' manic pressure affecting the Hawks' use by foot, the premiers had to rely on free kicks and opportunistic gathering at ground level to score.

Essendon coach James Hird would have been furious when Hawthorn pinched two quick goals via Paul Puopolo and Cyril Rioli just before half-time after the Dons had enjoyed the run of play.

That rapid double put the Hawks within 22 points at the main break, despite trailing by as much as 35 and being beaten sorely across the ground.

Lewis (34 disposals) had a huge say in the last quarter with 15 touches, and Luke Hodge (30) and Shaun Burgoyne (23) were important as the Hawks charged in the second half. 

Jack Gunston finished with three goals despite the Hawks failing to take a mark inside 50 in the first half. 

"We should never have been in a position to win the game really after the way we played in the first half, but then we did find ourselves in a position where we should never really have lost it too," coach Alastair Clarkson said after the match.

"So (I have) mixed emotions but mainly disappointment with the first half and not giving ourselves a decent enough chance to apply any scoreboard pressure early."

James Frawley (pectoral) was subbed out of the game in the first quarter, souring the result further for the Hawks, while they lost Sam Mitchell before the first bounce to a corked calf. 

Essendon's Cale Hooker celebrates his match-winning goal with teammates. Picture: AFL Media
 

ESSENDON    2.2  7.3  9.4  12.6 (78)
HAWTHORN  1.3  3.5  7.8  11.10 (76)              

GOALS
Essendon: Daniher 3, Chapman 2, Colyer 2, Bellchambers, Carlisle, Merrett, Hooker
Hawthorn: Gunston 3, Puopolo 2, Breust 2, Rioli, Sicily, Hill, Roughead

BEST 
Essendon: Watson, Hurley, Hooker, Daniher, Heppell, Colyer
Hawthorn: Gunston, Puopolo, Rioli, Hodge, Lewis, Burgoyne

INJURIES 
Essendon: Merrett (knee), Goddard (knee)
Hawthorn: Sam Mitchell (corked calf) replaced in selected side by James Sicily, Burgoyne (cheek), Frawley (pectoral), Suckling (ankle)

SUBSTITUTES
Essendon: Jason Ashby replaced Ben Howlett in the third quarter
Hawthorn: James Sicily replaced James Frawley in the first quarter

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Foot, Margetts, Meredith 

Official crowd: 59,866 at the MCG