Despite Jason Winderlich and Courtenay Dempsey sustaining suspected anterior cruciate ligaments early in the game and forcing Essendon to play out the afternoon with two fit men on the bench, the scores were tied at the final siren after the Bombers simply refused to lie down.
The Blues were a point in front at the 31-minute mark when Kade Simpson - who had been one of their best - made a costly error, when he kicked the ball out on the full on the wing.
Simpson had been the side's hero just minutes before when he kicked his third goal that handed them the lead.
Heath Hocking delivered it back into play, with the ensuring drive into the Bombers' forward 50 resulting in a point to David Zaharakis that tied the scores at 11.13 (79) apiece with less than 30 seconds remaining.
It was an amazing performance from the Bombers. A best-afield Dustin Fletcher stopped Jeff Garlett from scoring a match-sealing goal with less than four minutes remaining with a thrilling chase and tackle, while Hocking was one of their best, keeping Chris Judd to 24 touches and just five in the cliff-hanging final quarter.
The lead changed hands just once in the first half but seven times after the main break as the Blues attempted to run the undermanned Bombers off their feet.
The half time difference was just six points with the Bombers in front after they'd led by 18 at the first change, and early in the third, it appeared as though the Blues were set to deliver their knock-out punch.
They were their own worst enemy in front of goal and missed opportunities through Andrew Collins and Jarrad Waite.
Still, they pushed in front for the first time since the opening five minutes of the game with Jeremy Laidler and Ed Curnow finding the goals.
Then the Bombers got their second wind. With some excellent work from Fletcher and Brent Stanton, they fought their way back into the contest to hold a one-point lead at the final change despite the Blues' attempt to generate drive through the deployment of substitute Andrew Walker shortly before the final change.
Influential players
Jobe Watson did all he could to keep the Bombers' chances alive in the second quarter with 12 touches (30 for the game) while David Zaharakis gave them plenty of forward drive and Fletcher was huge across the game. For the Blues, defender Michael Jamison was important while Judd - despite being beaten by Hocking - almost willed the Blues over the line with desperation in the final stages.
What it means
It means the Bombers need to find replacements for their two injured players, and will enter the Anzac Day clash with Collingwood with a physical disadvantage given the bruising nature of the game and fact the bench was so tightly restricted for much of the day.
For the Blues, it means Ratten needs to rejig his forward line after it failed to fire and perhaps recall the omitted Bret Thornton, who was toying with an attacking role before he was dropped for this round.
Dream Team highlight
League games might not count this weekend but you'll still be smiling if you have Andrew Carrazzo as your skipper. The midfielder scored 142 with his 24 touches and nine marks, which was easily the best score afield from Brent Stanton (122), Jobe Watson (111) and Mitch Robinson (100).
Key match-ups
It was no surprise Hocking went to Judd at the first bounce after it was floated during the week but the Essendon defender's performance certainly attracted attention. He kept Judd quiet, especially in the pressure-filled final term (although Judd did make those five touches count), and ran himself ragged in his bid to keep the Brownlow medallist under wraps.
Magic moment
After the game, Ratten said he would have loved to have been able to tell Garlett to stop and absorb the clock when he marked inside 50 deep in the last quarter, but if he'd done that, we'd have been robbed of the game's best bit. Fletcher, 35, chased down the little goal-sneak after he played on and charged towards goal, and saved a certain goal that would have almost certainly sent the four points the Blues' way.
What the coaches said
Carlton - Brett Ratten
"It was a game of real momentum for both teams. In the first quarter they really dominated and we had our go in the second, but the game really fluctuated where one team really got on top in certain areas of the game and dominated.
"In the last quarter, I think it was seven-one out of the centre where they got momentum and inside 50s and opportunities to score.
"I just thought our composure wasn't great towards the end of the game."
Essendon - James Hird
"To come back after half time and hang on for a draw shows the character of the players we do have.
"They have been known as a group that are very flashy and offensive and today they showed they are a real footy club that grinds out results even though it wasn't a win for us."
Next four
Carlton: Adelaide (Etihad Stadium), Sydney Swans (SCG), St Kilda (Etihad Stadium), Bye
Essendon: Collingwood (MCG), Gold Coast (Etihad Stadium), West Coast (Etihad Stadium, Brisbane Lions (Gabba)
Carlton 0.2 4.9 6.13 11.13 (79)
Essendon 3.2 6.3 7.8 11.13 (79)
GOALS
Carlton: Simpson 3, Waite, Garlett, Laidler, Curnow, Carrazzo, Murphy, Warnock, Yarran
Essendon: Jetta 2, Lonergan 2, Hurley, Bellchambers, Watson, Fletcher, Zaharakis, , Stanton, Melksham
BEST
Carlton: Murphy, Waite, Gibbs, Yarran, Robinson, Jamison, Judd, Duigan
Essendon: Fletcher, Hooker, Zaharakis, Watson, Bellchambers, Hardingham, Lonergan
INJURIES
Carlton: None
Essendon: Winderlich (knee), Dempsey (knee)
SUBSTITUTES
Carlton: Lachlan Henderson replaced by Andrew Walker in the third quarter
Essendon: Jason Winderlich (knee) replaced by Brent Prismall in the first quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Nicholls, Stewart, McBurney
Official crowd: 78,605 at MCG
