Essendon have achieved a 146-point turnaround against GWS from last season's humiliation, beating the Giants by 20 points in a significant AFL result.
Down by 22 points in the second term, the Bombers first calmed the Orange Tsumani and then launched their own punishing wave to win 12.10 (82) to 9.8 (62) in the Saturday twilight game at Marvel Stadium.
Nic Martin was outstanding off half-back as Kyle Langford kicked four goals and Matt Guelfi also played a crucial role with his brace of three.
Apart from improving to 7-2-1 and going above the Giants on the ladder, Essendon also made a statement after their round-23 capitulation last year.
GWS slaughtered the Bombers at home by 126 points to destroy their finals hopes and deliver a major setback to coach Brad Scott's regime.
After notoriously going without a finals win since 2004, the Essendon faithful sounded like they're starting to dare to dream.
"That electric feeling ... I'm in an air-conditioned, climate controlled, soundproof coach's box, but I could hear the Essendon fans," Scott said.
"It sounded to me like they had real pride in their team and I said to the players, that's as good a reward as you can get.
"They probably get a sense of what's possible with the Essendon fans' excitement, of what that could be."
Essendon produced their best performance of the season so far to spoil the occasion for Giants legend Callan Ward, who was chaired off the ground after his 300th game.
The Giants were cleaner early and took their chances better, kicking four goals to one in the opening term.
They broke out to a game-high lead of 22 points when captain Toby Greene kicked his first goal in the second quarter.
But Langford looped a superb goal from his set shot deep in the pocket as the Bombers fought back and when he kicked his second late in the term, they only trailed by 12 points at the main break.
Essendon dominated the third quarter, racking up 19 inside 50s to seven.
Langford kicked another two and when Mason Redman launched a bomb from outside 50m as the Bombers hit the front for the first time.
They extended their advantage to 14 points when Guelfi kicked the first goal of the last term.
After Toby Bedford took a great mark and kicked accurately to keep the Giants in the contest, Guelfi posted his third and Nick Hind goalled on the run to build a match-winning break.
The Bombers clearly did their homework, with Guelfi playing a crucial defensive forward role on Lachie Whitfield and then also kicking three goals. Nic Martin was also mighty off halfback and Langford kicked four goals.
GWS star Tpm Green racked up a game-high 34 possessions after there were fears he had suffered a serious ankle injury last weekend.
But he was a rare shining light on a dirty day for the Giants, who were unable to honour Callan Ward's 300th game with a win.
"Ultimately, we were just beaten by a more desperate, hungrier team - after quarter time particularly," said Giants coach Adam Kingsley.
"We did look sharp early, I was pleased with our start. Essendon re-grouped at quarter time, raised their pressure and we didn't cope with it ... it was very good.
"They were far better than us in the contest. We weren't able to rectify that really after quarter time."