For the first time in 323 days, Essendon is victorious.
The drought is broken for success-starved Essendon fans.
The club has been dissected and scrutinised and led the news agenda for weeks praying to avoid the spotlight for months.
This week, the Bombers see the light at the end of the tunnel, substance added to coach Brad Scott's constant messaging about riding the journey and the promise of tomorrow.
Essendon has debuted more than half a side worth of debutants in that time; there would almost have been more players in the middle of the Gatorade shower. One of those was Lachie Blakiston, who had to wait until game 16 to see the Bombers fly up.
The Bombers defeated Melbourne on Saturday afternoon, with a late third quarter burst opening up a 22-point three-quarter-time buffer which proved insurmountable.
Once they started, there was no stopping the Bombers.
“I'm over the moon. It's been so tough the past few weeks but we bounce back…It's so special," defender Archie Roberts said on Fox Footy.
"Everyone played their role, and it's so contagious, this feeling, and it's something I just want to feel every week.”
It was the most emotional and energetic song belted out all year.
The win ensures Essendon avoids its longest ever losing streak, which it equalled by losing its 17th straight game to Western Bulldogs in Round 3.
When the game needed a moment, it was Zach Merrett who delivered, kicking the goal of his career at stoppage
The former captain has been the emblem of Essendon's struggles and his relationship with the supporter-base has subsequently been tested, but their celebration would have mirrored his palpable joy as the ball went through.
A minute later, second-year player Archer May sealed it with a wobbler that floated through.
It was Essendon's day.
Darcy Parish wound back the clock, playing his best game since his 2021 All-Australian season, with his third quarter in particular helping the Bombers open up a big lead.
His work helped relieve pressure on the backline and when it did go down there, it tended to be Roberts who mopped up, bettering his 37 disposals last week with 42 and influencing the contest significantly more with his poise.
Isaac Kako was another to play arguably his best game as the Bombers' forward half spark plug, Elijah Tsatas played like a man desperate to seize his chance, while the contributions of Jacob Farrow and Nate Caddy added more proof that the kids are coming.
Debutant Sullivan Robey rode the highs and lows of the Bombers' plight as a supporter last year while he was rising up draft boards and the start to his AFL career could not have been any better.
Patient, methodical play was the recipe to success, with the Bombers taking 128 uncontested marks, significantly more than their season average of 80, against a Melbourne side that has built form off the back of breakneck speed.
Amid discussion of a two-tiered competition where the bottom six has struggled to keep pace with the rest of the teams so far this season, Essendon became the first bottom six side to beat a top 12 opponent.
For Melbourne, it was a brutal reminder of the ebbs and flows of footy, with Steven King's young side exciting the footy world with a 3-1 start to the year which included last week's shock win over Gold Coast.
The Demons were unable to get it done in Jake Melksham's 250th game, while Christian Salem failed to play out the game due to injury.
