Lauchlan Dalgleish has kicked the winner as Essendon’s patched-up team scored a come from behind victory over Melbourne at Etihad Stadium.

The Bombers trailed by 11 points when Jack Watts kicked a final term major but the Demons’ No.1 draft pick was the villain late in Essendon’s dramatic 0.11.11 (77) to 0.11.9 (75) win.

With two minutes remaining, Watts’ kick across goal was snatched by Dalgleish, who ran into an open goal square and sent the ball into the top tier to seal the Bombers’ first pre-season victory.

The Bombers’ late win will leave Melbourne coach Paul Roos with plenty to think about before their round one meeting with GWS.

The two sides were tied up at three-quarter time, but goals to Jeff Garlett and Jack Watts decided the contest.

It didn’t look like being a close contest early, when Melbourne kept Essendon without a scoring shot for the opening 15 minutes.

But the Demons were indirect in their attacking and wasteful in front of goal, taking just a three-point lead into quarter-time.

In the second term, Jeff Garlett had the modest crowd cheering when he smothered the ball 60 metres from goal with no defenders in front of him.

The race was on, with Bombers defender Mark Baguley running Garlett down with a last gasp tackle.

Inspired, Dalgleish then kicked the goal of the match.

Receiving a handball at full speed in his defensive 50, Dalgleish burned off Rohan Bail and bounced four times, running into his own forward line and kicking truly.

The match was well and truly alive at 37-all at half-time.

Melbourne fell into its old ways after the break, but stayed afloat through the Bombers’ errant kicking for goal.

But they never inflicted the knock-out blow, allowing Essendon to snatch it at the death, despite the efforts of best-afield Heritier Lumumba.

The Collingwood recruit powered the Demons from defence, providing run that was often missing.