Essendon teenager Travis Colyer says the win over AFL ladder leaders Geelong has put the fun back into footy for the Bombers.

Essendon snapped a five-game losing streak with a shock triumph over the Cats at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night, holding off a late charge to win 18.7 (115) to 16.15 (111).

The Bombers have won six-and-a-half of their 14 games to put themselves firmly back into finals contention.

"Over the last five weeks we've learnt a lot about where we are at," said Colyer, 19.

"The coaches haven't changed their attitude. We've stuck at it, they've stuck at it.

"Just to know that what we're doing is working (is a big positive).

"But we've still got a lot to improve on."

The Bombers are already looking forward to next Saturday night's MCG clash with Richmond.

"You can always take confidence out of a win. The boys are enjoying it, we're having fun out there," Colyer said.

"It's always good to have confidence and a bit of momentum going your way."

Colyer came off the bench as Essendon's substitute player shortly before halftime when Andrew Welsh broke down with a hamstring injury after kicking two early goals.

The 174cm Claremont recruit carried on where Welsh left off by kicking two goals of his own in a dramatic final quarter.

"You don't want to see one of your players go down," said 15-game player Colyer.

"But to get an opportunity to come on was good.

"I had a bit more rest so I was able to get a bit of run and use that to my advantage in the second half.

"They (Geelong) were undefeated for the year so there was a little bit more pressure and intensity. They have been such a good team for the last couple of years.

"It has been one of the more intense, attacking sort of games that I've had."

Colyer said the influence of former Cats coach Mark Thompson and ex-Geelong assistant Brendan McCartney, who are now assistants to Essendon coach James Hird, meant the Bombers felt they had an intimate knowledge of Geelong's strengths and weaknesses and could exploit that information.

Essendon won the contested possessions 158 to 148.

"They would have revved them up to win the contested footy," Cats captain Cameron Ling told the Seven Network's AFL Game Day program on Sunday.

"They had numbers at the ball, they just kept on coming back to the ball.

"You could see that had the stamp of 'Bomber' and 'Macca' there."

Hird said Welsh was set to miss three weeks, adding to an injury list that includes skipper Jobe Watson.

Hird said the Bombers had been "under the pump" in losing five consecutive games.

"To hold on when they came back at us in the last quarter, it just shows a little bit of a sign of maturity," he said.

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