""One of my vivid memories of season 2003 came in Round 16 at The Dome when we took on the Brisbane Lions. It is fair to say we had our backs to the walls going into that game – a loss would have virtually ended our hopes of playing in the finals. In terms of home and away games it doesn’t get much bigger. We knew our season was on the line and so did the fans."" Reports James Hird in his latest column in The Bomber.

It was a sensational game of football that night. We started well but the Lions kept coming, as you would expect from the competition’s reigning Premier. The game tightened right up in the dying minutes but we held firm and won by eight points. While the result was fantastic, it was the atmosphere of the place that really struck me. It was the first time that I really remember The Dome feeling like home.

And I think Essendon fans now feel the same way and understand the influence they can have on games. A sea of red and black supporters does make it a very uncomfortable place for opposition sides to visit. As our coach says, it really does become the ""House of Horrors"". The Essendon fans lift the team and intimidate the opposition.

And that is exactly how a home ground should be. Ask any of the interstate sides and they will agree. We must ensure The Dome becomes the Victorian equivalent of AAMI Stadium, Subiaco, the Gabba or the SCG. It is something the players can’t do alone - we need your help.

After four seasons, The Dome is now a place the players enjoy playing at and our supporters enjoy coming to. I think there is one major reason that it has become this way – we now feel we have built up some sort of history at the venue. I think that is very important.

Players and supporters can look back on ‘moments’ at the ground with great pride. Who will ever forget Steven Alessio’s mark in the dying moments and the subsequent goal that saw us defeat the Swans in Round 19 2001? Matthew Lloyd has kicked bags of goals, players have debuted, great marks have been taken – it all adds up to a venue building up its own identity.

As a player you just get a feeling for a venue, the bounce of the ball, the vagaries of kicking for goal or the flight of the ball when going for a mark. I think our players have come to terms with that now and our win-loss record would suggest we handle it very well.

Which brings me to another point – this nonsense that we can’t play good football away from The Dome because we are used to playing indoors. What rubbish! Last season Essendon played nine games at the MCG – the same number that we played at The Dome. We won six games at The MCG and seven at the Dome. On top of this we train outdoors at Windy Hill or other venues two or three times a week for nine months of the year. It is ridiculous to say that we have become an indoor side.

But I don’t mind us being regarded as a team very difficult to beat at our home ground. We need to continue to build our already impressive venue at The Dome. And for us to do that we need Essendon supporters to continue to pack the stands and make some noise for both home and away games.