Essendon have stunned wasteful arch-rivals Carlton, with David Zaharakis sealing a thrilling comeback AFL win to set the scene for a fascinating final week of the home-and-away season.

With the Bombers coming off four straight heavy defeats and expected to be stripped of their finals berth in coming days over last year’s supplements saga, the Blues would have been assured of at least sewing up ninth spot and becoming the beneficiaries had they won.

Instead, Carlton constantly squandered scoring chances with inaccurate kicking, then let slip a 20-point third-quarter lead to fall 12.10 (82) to 9.22 (76) at the MCG on Saturday night.

Now, the Blues must beat Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium next Saturday to ensure they’re the side that will enter the eight if Essendon are kicked out.

If Carlton lose that game, North Melbourne, West Coast, Adelaide or perhaps Brisbane could potentially overtake them.

The Blues were on top in general play for much of Saturday’s game.

But they kicked 3.9 and another shot out on the full to Essendon’s 4.2 in the first quarter to lead by just a point.

The Bombers surged to a 13-point lead midway through the second term and, while Carlton kicked the last two goals of the first half, Dennis Armfield then sprayed a shot out on the full to leave them trailing by three points at the long break.

Carlton dominated the third term, with 12 scoring shots to two but, even then, they kept Essendon in the hunt, scoring 4.8 to two goals to lead by 17 points at the last change.

Within 15 minutes of the final term, David Myers, Michael Hurley and Paddy Ryder had all kicked goals and the Bombers were in front by a point.

The Blues continued to waste chances late in the game, with Lachie Henderson and Bryce Gibbs missing set shots, Gibbs tying the scores with his behind from 40m with less than three minutes left.

Essendon then surged forward and, while Carlton’s Jarrad Waite took a strong defensive mark to repel one attack and Kade Simpson earned a gutsy free kick to repel another, the Bombers came again.

This time, Nick Kommer laid a crucial tackle on Simpson deep in attack, Zaharakis pounced and goaled and the Bombers climbed six points clear and held on to win.

Captain Jobe Watson (27 disposals, two goals) and Brendon Goddard (27 disposals) led the way for the Bombers, while Simpson was excellent for the Blues.