Finals’ football is all about pressure and in the second quarter of last Friday night’s Elimination Final against Fremantle the Bombers were pouring it on. Fremantle looked ripe for the picking even that early in the game until a Damian Cupido indiscretion on the outer wing. Pinged by the umpires for running too far, Cupido gave the umpires a spray and the resulting 50m penalty and goal could have been a turning point in the game.

Walking back to the centre Cupido looked a forlorn figure. He knew the pressure had been relieved. Esssendon captain James Hird sensed his young teammates’ mood and went straight over to him, put his arm around him and spoke to him. You could almost see Cupido lift from that moment. He had to play a part if Essendon was going to win and the captain didn’t want him dwelling on his error.

“He just told me to put it behind me and get on with the game. He said I was a good player and the side needed me to get that goal back,” Cupido said. The 20-year-old didn’t let his captain down. The following quarter he kicked two goals in as many minutes and set up another to see the Bombers establish a break that was always going to be enough.

Hird not only played sensational football last weekend but he also led the side brilliantly - there was no better example of it than that public show of support for Cupido. The Essendon players will want to lift again for their captain this Saturday night in Adelaide.