AFL 2025 round one LIVE: Hawks, Bombers blockbuster comes alive with Kako, Ginnivan goals

Essendon thought Massimo D’Ambrosio was sticking around, on a modest one-year rookie contract.

The mid-season draftee fell out of favour under new Bombers coach Brad Scott in 2023, and did not play a senior match after round 13. But they wanted to retain him, based on the impressive glimpses he had shown.

The problem was Hawthorn liked D’Ambrosio even more. As a second-year rookie, D’Ambrosio had the right to become an unrestricted free agent and walk to the Hawks.

D’Ambrosio, stuck as an emergency at Essendon in the second half of 2023, made the All-Australian squad of 40 last year, while Hawthorn soared from an 0-5 start to win a final in coach Sam Mitchell’s third season in charge since replacing Alastair Clarkson.

That last bit must rankle Bombers fans most, given the club has infamously not saluted in a final since beating Melbourne in 2004.

Read Marc McGowan’s fascinating look at the rebuilding of Hawthorn under Sam Mitchell and Essendon under Brad Scott HERE.