ESSENDON’S comeback story got off to a winning start with a 25-point win over Hawthorn at the MCG on Saturday night.

Skipper Dyson Heppell was the best of the Essendon players returning from doping bans, kicking three goals and finishing with 30 possessions, but it was young player Zach Merrett who really dominated in the middle, winning 36 possessions. 

The Hawks led the match at half time, but it was a blistering third term from the Bombers when they kicked seven goals, that set up the win.

New Hawthorn skipper Jarryd Roughead finished with two goals, while new recruit Tom Mitchell impressed for the Hawks with 35 possessions.

ESSENDON             4.4   5.8       12.12           17.14 (116)                  
HAWTHORN            2.3   6.10       10.14         12.19 (91)      

GOALS
Essendon: Fantasia 4, Daniher 3, Hooker 3, Heppell 3, Stanton 2, Zaharakis, McKernan
Hawthorn: Roughead 2, Puopolo 2, McEvoy 2, Rioli, Bruest, Schoenmakers, Shiels, Hartung, Smith

BEST
Essendon: Merrett, Heppell, Goddard, Watson, Daniher, Parish
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Langford, O'Meara, Burgoyne, Birchall

INJURIES 
Essendon: Nil
Hawthorn: Rioli (thigh)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Foot, Findlay, McInerney

Official crowd: 78,294 at the MCG

More to come.