Assistant coach Mark Harvey was pleased with the team’s four-quarter performance and the way they attacked the ball and. “It was an intense game and we responded under the pressure. We haven’t beaten Brisbane in over two years so it was an important win,” Harvey said.
“There was a lot at stake tonight and the team dug deep and found something from beneath. It was a physical contest but the players ran the match out and continued the intensity for four quarters. The team kept the pressure on until the final siren, which was an encouraging sign.”
After a disappointing game last week against Adelaide, Mark Johnson redeemed himself with a best on ground performance. Johnson has spent most of the season in the mid-field, but the coaching panel used him in a different capacity tonight. “We played Mark forward and also in the backline. Wherever we put him tonight he gave us something. He created a contest and really put his body on the line,” Harvey said.
Mark Bolton was another player who put his hand up tonight. Bolton proved a strong marking target across half-forward and finished with two goals. “I thought Bolton was particularly good in the final quarter. He kept running and working and took a few important grabs at crucial stages of the match,” Harvey said.
Essendon faces Melbourne next Saturday at the MCG and Harvey hopes the win against Brisbane will instill renewed confidence in the team. “Hopefully we can carry the form from tonight into the next month. The match will build the player’s confidence to know they can match it with the best sides in the competition.”
