Essendon’s two games against Collingwood this AFL season highlight how far Courtenay Dempsey has come since serving a club suspension.

The Bombers defender missed the opening five rounds due to the suspension, imposed because he had lacked discipline and tested his teammates’ patience too often.

But coach Mark Thompson put him straight back into the side for the Anzac Day match against the Magpies.

Essendon lost the clash after a strong start, with Dempsey struggling when he was subbed into the game.

But on Sunday night, 11 rounds later, Dempsey and Essendon showed how far they have come.

He laid six tackles and was rock-solid across half-back as the Bombers thrashed Collingwood in an upset 64-point win.

It put Essendon back into the top eight for the first time since round four and is an ideal way for Dempsey to go into his 100th game this Sunday when they play the Western Bulldogs.

“I had an eye-opener earlier in the year,” he said.

“It made me reflect on everything, not only just football, but life in general.”

Along with his family, Dempsey credits Thompson for helping sort out his life.

“He had the confidence in me to put me straight back in after a month out,” Dempsey said.

“He gave me confidence in myself to actually perform for him and the team.”

In turn, Thompson is rapt that Dempsey has learned from the suspension and knuckled down.

“There are opportunities when people do mess up,” the interim Essendon coach said.

“He had a real correction in his life.

“For the first time, he has realised how important football is and how important his friends are at the club and how important it is to just behave in a way that gets him respect.

“I am really proud that I have had some part in that, because he’s a much better person.”