Richmond snapped a three-game Dreamtime at the 'G streak on an occasion which again proved to be about much more than football in front of more than 78,000 on Friday night.
Both sides came into the contest with a sole win for 2026, with the Tigers claiming their second in the centrepiece fixture of Sir Doug Nicholls Round, an occasion extending beyond 20 years between the Tigers and Bombers.
Leading at each change, a late scare from an injury-depleted Essendon was aviaded to claim a 10.14 (74) - 7.14 (56) win.
A horrid half for the Bombers' medical staff created a mammoth uphill battle to climb, which proved too much of a task against an energetic Richmond outfit.
Andy McGrath left in an ambulance with a suspected broken jaw after copping an elbow before the main break.
Essendon's list of casualties already included Matt Guelfi and Sam Dursma, whose nights both ended early with a hamstring and concussion, respectively.
Fresher legs helped sway the outcome, with the Tigers stretching two goal margins at quarter and half time to around the 20 point mark shortly after play resumed.
They couldn't, however, completely put the result to bed, with the Bombers kicking the first of the fourth term and shrinking the deficit to as little as seven before back-to-back goals for the Tigers saw out the contest.
Wayward kicking was the theme in the third term.
Neither team took advantage of their chances in front of goal, sharing nine minor scores between them.
While injury did deny First Nations Richmond forwards Maurice Rioli Jr and Rhyan Mansell from taking part in the match, it couldn't stop them from joining in on pre-match ceremony.
Speaking earlier in the week, Rioli admitted he was frustrated not to be taking part, but spoke of the larger impact of the Dreamtime game.
Caught by broadcasters, a rousing pre-match speech from a close-to-tears Michael Long — who asked the Bombers to show some Essendon spirit, appeared to keep them in it despite a mountain of luck going against them.
Exhausted Bombers were regularly turned away from the bench late in the contest with little there to replace them.
Away from the football played, the 21st Dreamtime at the 'G lived up to its reputation as a marquee fixture within the AFL's annual dedicated celebrations of Indigenous players, people, culture, and history.
From mid afternoon Thousands gathered at Birrarung Marr Hilltop overlooking the river for The Long Walk.
Food, music, dance and speeches prepared fans for the procession over the bridge and through the gates for a lap of the 'G.
It's an occasion looking back to Bombers great Michael Long's 2004 journey to Canberra, where he walked from Melbourne to Parliament House "to get Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues back on the national agenda" and meet then-Prime Minister John Howard to discuss ongoing issues faced by First Peoples.
A community of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people joined Long on the journey.
In 2023, the dual premiership winner and Norm Smith medallist embarked on another hundreds of kilometres-long walk in the lead up to the Voice to Parliament referendum.
He did so with "hope that we could make change in this country for all the right reasons," Long said at the Naarm event 12 months earlier.
In 2026, the tradition continued with The Long Walk Naarm.
Long thanked those who joined to gather, particulaly acknowledging children who had come from all across the country to be there.
His playing career coach Kevin Sheedy told the crowd of Long's impact and influence on hundreds of First Nations footballers playing at the elite level in the time since his first game, while The Long Walk chief executive Leanne Brook encouraged all those there to "show up, stand up and take action" in an effort to create a more just Australia.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joined Long on the trek to the MCG.
Footscray and Brisbane champion and Sir Doug Nicholls Round honouree, Michael 'Magic' McClean, was honoured in the centre of the ground before the stadium lights dimmed.
Wurundjeri Kulin and Djrri Djrri dance groups set the scene ahead of Dan Sultan performing his songs 'Kimberley Calling', with Nidala, and 'Story' with Ricky Neil Jr and DENNI.
In between, Jem Cassar-Daley, accompanied by Zoe Brown-Holten and David Biondi-Odo in dance, sang 'This Land is Living'.
After four quarters, Bombers mid Darcy Parish claimed his second Yiooken Medal as best on ground for his desperate 40-disposal, nine-clearance performance in a losing effort.
Richmond's Tim Taranto and Patrick Retschko finished second and third.
Yorta Yorta man Jade Gresham, returning to Essendon's line up, was unlucky not to create a nailbiter when he couldn't squeeze in a snap while dodging traffic mid-way through the final term.
Gresham finished with 12 touches, a clearance and four tackles — enough to have him among the game's top defensive performers during the third term.
Sir Doug Nicholls Round continues through Round 11.
