As Essendon coach James Hird was only too happy to admitafter his team's dramatic four-point win over Geelong, the Bombers' recent formshows how much of the game is played above the shoulders.
Watch Hirdy's post match press conference here on BomberTV ?
A week ago, Hird's men were 10 goals down at half-timeagainst Hawthorn. They looked listless and devoid of confidence.
Just eight days later, they pulled off an extraordinary upsetvictory over the Cats, who had won their past 13 matches.
""I'm obviously very happy with our boys'performance,"" a smiling Hird said after the game.
""We've been under the pump in the last five weeks,losing five in a row, and there's no doubt that our performance last week,particularly, wasn't good enough.
""For the guys to bounce back was a great credit to thecharacter of the players. They played some really good football.
""But particularly for our members and supporters, itjust gives them something to hold onto for the year.
""It's really important when your supporters and memberssupport you the way ours have.
""We've got 50,000 members and they keep coming to gamesand I'm happy for them for that sake.""
Hird was delighted with the way his players dug deep whenGeelong fought back from a 33-point deficit in the third quarter and closed to withinfour points late in the final term.
""To be able to stay in the game and in the moment wasreally important,"" he said. ""It's something we didn't do last weekagainst Hawthorn.
""To hold on when they came back at us … shows a littlebit of a sign of maturity.
""We've got a long way to go, we've got a lot of youngplayers, but the maturity to hang on was really pleasing.
""Tonight was a really good sign of where we're going asa footy club, but we've still got a lot of work to do.""
Hird heaped praise on usual forward Michael Hurley, whospent the night at full-back on James Podsiadly and kept the big Cat goallesswhile collecting 19 possessions himself.
""Michael Hurley is one of those people you'd love toplay footy with,"" Hird said.
""I'm very glad he plays for us because he's a terrificperson, very good talent, and he's going to be a terrific footballer for us fora long period of time.
""Tonight, along with Dustin Fletcher and Tayte Pears,Mark McVeigh and a few others, he did a great job in the backline.""
Essendon youngster Travis Colyer, who kicked two goals afterbeing subbed into the game when Andrew Welsh suffered a hamstring injury, couldhardly wipe the smile off his face as he soaked up the win.
""It was really enjoyable,"" he said. ""Whenyou're enjoying your footy, that's when you play your best.
""One thing the coaches have done is encouraged us to dois just play footy and not get too down on ourselves.
""We really enjoyed it tonight. We're a close group soit's really good to see everyone playing their part.""
Welsh, meanwhile, is likely to be sidelined for three weeksdue to his hamstring strain.
Although Colyer handled himself with aplomb, Welsh's injurywas a blow for the Bombers as he had kicked two early goals in an intriguingbattle with Geelong's champion defender Matthew Scarlett.
""It's really disappointing for Andrew because hestarted really well,"" Hird said.
""He's missed a lot of football with soft-tissueinjuries this year, but he can still play football and we'll be looking forwardto having him back in the side when he's fit.""
