Essendon have survived a massive scare to strengthen their grip on an AFL top-eight spot with a thrilling six-point win over injury-hit North Melbourne.
Earlier, Marlion Pickett's late goal earned Richmond a six-point win over GWS.
A game of swinging momentum eventually fell the Bombers' way when substitute Massimo D'Ambrosio snapped the match-winning goal with two minutes left in a 16.9 (105) to 15.9 (99) victory at Docklands.
The second-from-bottom Kangaroos trailed by 20 points at quarter-time and lost important midfielders Jy Simpkin and Hugh Greenwood to concussion before the main break.
But they fought back with six consecutive goals and led by 17 points during the third term.
The Bombers kicked six of the next seven majors to turn for home with a lead and got their noses back in front in a nerve-wracking final quarter, boosting their finals hopes in the process.
The lead changed hands four times in the last term and scores were level in the final few minutes before D'Ambrosio stepped up with the game on the line.
Kyle Langford booted four goals for Essendon and Zach Merrett finished with a game-high 34 disposals, while Jye Caldwell (27 touches), Jordan Ridley (21) and Nic Martin (21, two goals) were important.
Cameron Zurhaar kicked four goals for North and Ben McKay had some massive moments in defence.
An undermanned midfield led by Will Phillips (28 disposals), Bailey Scott (19) and Harry Sheezel (21) threatened to lift the Kangaroos to a huge upset.
There were early alarm bells for North as their opponents' ability to waltz out of stoppages led to the Bombers kicking four of the first five goals.
Merrett produced a massive opening term, racking up 17 disposals, five clearances and two goals by the first break as Essendon opened up a 20-point lead.
But Liam Shiels put the clamps on the Bombers' ball-winner in the second term, limiting him to five touches.
North kicked three unanswered goals in the second term and rattled off the first three majors of the third, with Tarryn Thomas' snap putting them 17 points up.
Three goals in five minutes put the Bombers back in front in a game of rapidly swinging momentum.
Essendon fans got some light relief in an intense third term when Andrew Phillips' shanked kick led to a Nic Martin mark — after the ball bounced off his head — and goal to give them an 11-point break at the final change.
There were four lead changes in the final term and North's Jaidyn Stephenson levelled the scores with a brilliant snap with three minutes left, only to be outdone by D'Ambrosio.
Tigers get over the line against Giants
Richmond forward Marlion Pickett kicked a goal with 24 seconds remaining to snatch a thrilling six-point AFL victory over GWS at Giants Stadium.
Pickett swooped on a loose ball inside the Tigers' forward 50 and ran to space to kick the major with his left boot and secure the 16.14 (110) to 15.14 (104) triumph for Andrew McQualter's first win as caretaker coach on Sunday.
The Tigers took a 16-point lead into the final term but had to overcome a spirited Giants challenge as 12 goals were slotted in a stunning last quarter, including one to Kieren Briggs that gave GWS the lead in the dying stages.
Dion Prestia responded almost immediately to level the scores at the 33-minute mark before Pickett broke the deadlock for the final time three minutes later.
Tigers midfielder Tim Taranto was quick to make his mark against his former club with an inspired display on his return to Giants Stadium.
The prized recruit settled the nerves with an early major in his first meeting with the club with which he played 114 matches, and went on to finish with game-highs of 35 disposals and nine clearances.
Jack Riewoldt slotted five goals as the Tigers spearhead bounced back from having consecutive goalless games for the first time since 2020 to be the most damaging forward in the match.
Fellow stalwarts Prestia (23 disposals, 6 clearances) and Dustin Martin (19) were also important, especially as the Tigers set up their early advantage, while Shai Bolton (23, one goal) added a spark throughout.
The Tigers (4-7-1) made the most of their early opportunities, scoring 10 of the 12 times they went inside 50 in the opening term to take a 24-point lead into the first change.
The Giants fought back to make the contest more of an arm wrestle through the second half, but the Tigers were able to respond and give McQualter a maiden win in his second match in charge.
Skipper Toby Greene kicked three goals, including two in the final term as the Giants pushed hard to chase down the visitors, after being well-held earlier in the contest.
Tom Green (35 disposals, eight clearances) was prominent around the stoppages for the Giants, while Callan Ward (32, one goal) turned back the clock and young gun Finn Callaghan (23, one goal) showed signs of his prodigious talents.
The Giants (4-8) will also be counting the cost of a hamstring injury to Brent Daniels after the zippy forward left the field in the second term and was subbed out of the match.
Daniels has impressed in 11 matches this season with 17 goals, after missing all of last year with persistent hamstring issues. But the luckless Giant now faces another stint on the sidelines.
Richmond will look to make it two in a row when they face Fremantle on Saturday night, while GWS head to Hobart to take on North Melbourne on Sunday.
AAP
