In his first AFL game for almost 15 months, Joe Daniher has sparked Essendon to a stunning 16-point comeback win over Hawthorn.

Daniher kicked three goals as the Bombers overturned a 36-point deficit at halftime to win 13.9 (87) to 10.11 (71) in Thursday’s twilight match at Adelaide Oval.

Daniher booted 3.3 and took several strong grabs as the Bombers revived their season by snapping a five-game winless streak to rise to ninth on the ladder.

Hawthorn’s loss was soured by luckless Jonathon Patton suffering another injury.

Patton’s season could be over after hobbling from the field in the opening quarter with a suspected right calf injury.

The No.1 pick at the 2011 draft, who underwent three knee reconstruction operations while with Greater Western Sydney, will have scans on Friday.

Patton had only returned to action last Saturday after being sidelined for six games by a hamstring strain.

Hawthorn led 7.10 to 2.4 at halftime after scoring from 17 of their 22 inside 50s in the half.

But Daniher, who has been cruelled by groin injury since his last game in round nine last year, played an inspired second half.

The Bombers booted five goals to one to trail by nine points at three quarter-time.

The star forward’s purple patch began with a trademark high grab on the wing in the third stanza.

Minutes later, he marked low-down, casually converted around his body and was mobbed by teammates.

Daniher soon added two more marks only to blaze set shots wide, but laced-out Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti for another major.

And in the tense last quarter, with his side four points up with less than four minutes remaining, Daniher goaled again.

He then capped his fairytale comeback by snapping the last major of the game to seal a remarkable win.

Essendon’s Zach Merrett was outstanding with 36 disposals, ably supported by Ashley McGrath (32 possessions), Kyle Langford (27 touches) and Dylan Shiel (25 disposals).

Bombers Jake Stringer, Cale Hooker and Dylan Clarke each booted two goals.

Hawthorn’s Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell was his side’s chief ball-winner with 27 disposals while teammates Tom Scully, Jack Gunston and Daniel Howe slotted two majors apiece.

The Hawks meet winless Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Tuesday evening with Essendon playing West Coast in Brisbane later that night.