THE MATCH-winning goal from defender Cale Hooker that sealed Essendon's thrilling victory over Hawthorn was a set play, Bombers coach James Hird has revealed.  

The Bombers have spent time this summer working on scenarios for the final minutes of nail-biting games – and it took just two rounds before they found themselves in a real-life cliffhanger.

So when the backman was able to gather the ball and snap accurately to put the Bombers in front with just 57 seconds remaining, Hird was pleased his players had the nous to carry the plan out.

WATCH: James Hird speaks about Cale Hooker's set play

"We've trained all year with two minutes to go, a goal down, and put someone off the half back and it worked," Hird said, after the Bombers' thrilling two-point win.

"Hooker is the man we've had going forward. 

"We've been doing it, so they did it themselves. They know that when a certain part of the game is that's what they're meant to do, and they did it.

"It's great when you train something and it happens."

Click here for full match coverage

Hird said the win was significant for a number of reasons:  

- It showed the players that questions about their fitness levels, after many of them went through pre-season without a competitive game, might have come too early.

- It proved last week's fade-out against the Sydney Swans "wasn't typical" behaviour of his "extremely resilient group", who should never be counted out.

- And it also showed Hird how far the Bombers had come since he took over coaching for the 2011 season, with the way they were able to implement the final-minute play.

"What I'm really pleased about with our players is four or five years ago we came into a team that was a young group, that we had to make moves and coach them all the time," he said.

"But where we are now – and 'Bomber' (Mark Thompson) obviously did it last year and we did it a few years before – we've coached the team, they're an experienced team now and they know how to play so that was very pleasing."

After leading by 35 points, the Bombers looked done as the Hawks charged and got 16 points in front halfway through the last term. 

But they were able to kick the last three goals of the game to outlast the premiers, a week after failing to withstand a Swans comeback that eventually inflicted a 12-point loss.

"I think it's huge for the players," he said.

"The question will be asked, probably for the next couple of weeks – have we got the right match practice into our group, obviously without getting it?

"Now two games in, we think we've got the matches we need.

"We've got a short break going into Carlton next week but it's just huge for the group. They're gaining confidence and they beat a really good football team, and when you beat good teams, you start to become a good team yourself."

Hird said the knee Brendon Goddard twisted and sought treatment for in the third quarter was fine, as he was able to play out the game.