The Bombers had only 34 tackles in the first half but amassed 55 in the second as they reversed a 23-point deficit from midway through the third term to eventually win by 39 points.
Hird admitted his side was outplayed by Richmond for most of the night and that a turnaround in pressure around the ball helped it overcome a tardy start.
""On the back of some really good tackling in the third quarter and second half, I think we really got ourselves back into the game. After half-time that's an outstanding number of tackles,"" Hird said.
The game followed a similar path to that of the clubs' round-nine clash, when Richmond, after a tight first half, broke away to a match-winning lead in the third quarter.
In contrast to that game, when Essendon couldn't take its opportunities in front of goal, the Bombers stormed home to kick 10 unanswered goals. Hird said it was important to grind out this win when his team hadn't played to its maximum for the full game.
""We weren't as good in the second quarter and first half of the third quarter as we would have liked, but we hung in and worked our way through it,"" he said.
""It's another learning experience for us; how to hang in a game when you're not playing great and win a game when things weren't going exactly as we would have liked.""
Despite being on the end of a heavy knock from teammate Kyle Hardingham, Michael Hurley was one of Essendon's key players in the win and kept Tigers' spearhead Jack Riewoldt to only one goal for the night.
Hurley moved forward in the third quarter when Essendon needed an aerial target, and Hird said his impact showed why the 21-year-old is considered a rising star of the competition.
""We thought that we needed a focal point a little bit more in that third quarter so we tried to get Michael up in the forward line.
""We took a bit of a punt that we could handle their forward line after the third quarter [and it worked],"" Hird said.
""Michael did a fantastic job all night, forward and back. He created a couple of goals for us and stopped goals all night.
""As I've said a number of times, if Michael's playing in the backline he's terrific for us, if he was playing in the midfield he'd be terrific for us and as a forward he's terrific for us.""
""I can't speak highly enough of Michael Hurley and the character of person he is.""
Hird said Travis Colyer was cleared of any concussion after a knock to the head, but was subbed out of the game at half-time after ""not feeling good"".
