Essendon have pulled off an outstanding AFL upset, beating Melbourne by 13 points on Saturday at the MCG.

The Bombers team of top-ups, kids and a smattering of stars simply worked harder than the Demons and won 11.14 (80) to 10.7 (67).

There was speculation before the season started that the Bombers might not win a game in 2016.

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Nine players had their first win as Essendon players.

It was also Essendon’s first home game of the season and several thousand fans had marched to the ground before the match as a show of solidarity.

The Bombers continue to reel from the ongoing fallout from their supplements debacle.

But before the game the club also announced they had re-signed banned midfielder Heath Hocking, as well as two major sponsorship deals.

Key forward Joe Daniher, top-10 draft pick Darcy Parish and fellow onballer Zac Merrett all showed they are Essendon’s future with impressive games.

Daniher’s goalkicking was terrible – 2.4 and two out on the full – but he racked up 15 marks and was best afield.

Midfielder David Zaharakis also was huge in the last term and finished with 34 possessions.

After losing the tackle count 87-56 in last week’s loss to Gold Coast, Essendon out-tackled the Demons 66-50.

Melbourne looked set to snatch the game from Essendon when they kicked the first three goals of the last quarter for a six-point lead.

It was the first time the Demons had led since the second term.

But Daniher kicked his second as the Bombers closed out the game with three goals.

Ben Kennedy was best for Melbourne with three goals.

Meanwhile, Adelaide’s Eddie Betts and Tom Lynch have shared the spoils in a 58-point AFL belting of arch rivals Port Adelaide.

Lynch kicked six goals, Betts slotted five and key forward Josh Jenkins booted four in Adelaide’s commanding 22.12 (144) to 11.20 (86) victory.

The Crows mauled Port from the start – Betts set the tone with the initial two goals, and Adelaide led by 10 goals midway in the second term of Don Pyke’s first win as an AFL head coach.

Lynch, Betts and Jenkins feasted on a supply of scoring chances generated by midfielders Scott Thompson (29 disposals) and Matt Crouch (24 touches) while utility Rory Laird (33 possessions) was outstanding.

Backmen Brodie Smith and Luke Brown were also prominent while fullback Daniel Talia kept Port’s prized recruit Charlie Dixon goal-less before 51,585 spectators.