It doesnt matter that we were rubbish most of the night.

[robbie67]

We NEEDED to win a game like that. Once again poor kicking for goal almost cost us a game we should never had looked like losing. I know Vossy was carrying on about how Richmond had control of the game around the ground, but I couldnt disagree with him more. We controlled the play for about 70% of the contest last night, but just couldnt convert. That's the sort of game we have always lost in the last two years.

Think about the big turning point games this club has had in the last 25 years. Neale Daniher stealing that game from Carlton in the mid-80's, that set up our next 3 years. The come from behind against Carlton early in 93, when we were 3 goals down with minutes to play, then drew level, and Kernahan kicked it out on the full. I'm not saying for one minute, that this group is anywhere near as capable as either of those teams, but last night is going to help them believe that when the contests are close, they just have to keep their heads, and they can get a win. We will win a few more of these types of games now.

[Lloyd is King]

You make a good point Robbie, and I agree to an extent.

4 years ago we used to be the close game specialists. But now with the loss of experience from the team, the close wins have dried up.

Last night was a good recovery from a bad position.

But it will mean little if we lose our next 3 (Syd, WC, Port).

[bombers_rock]

Agree with you 100% rob. For the majority of the game we were in control. I think it's just the times when Richmond were in control and converting better than us, that makes it look like it was their game more than ours.

I hope we win a few more of these tight ones, and I think we will too. The boys just have to get it into their heads that regardless of the margin, if they do the hard stuff, put in the 1%ers, we're a chance to win and I think that was shown last night. We were 17 points down with minutes to go and we turned it into an 8 point win (25 point turnaround).

This game, along with the Carlton one, was one we never should have looked like losing. Time ran out for us against Carlton (another minute or 2 and we probably would've had it), however, we didn't let time get the better of us last night. Just kept chipping away until we hit the front, then continued to pressure until the siren.

[Rossoneri]

The key was the blokes who dragged us back into the game.

Hille, Watson, McPhee (hird as well, but its his last year). It was a good effort to win a game that looked gone.

Our team through the early 90's was built on character. You could never write us off, and thats what got us the flag in '93.

Like Robbie, im not saying that we are going to win the flag this yar, but yesterdays win was more important psychologically than our previous 4 wins.

[Boyler_Room]

We NEEDED to win a game like that. Once again poor kicking for goal almost cost us a game we should never had looked like losing. I know Vossy was carrying on about how Richmond had control of the game around the ground, but I couldnt disagree with him more. We controlled the play for about 70% of the contest last night, but just couldnt convert. That's the sort of game we have always lost in the last two years.

Think about the big turning point games this club has had in the last 25 years. Neale Daniher stealing that game from Carlton in the mid-80's, that set up our next 3 years. The come from behind against Carlton early in 93, when we were 3 goals down with minutes to play, then drew level, and Kernahan kicked it out on the full. I'm not saying for one minute, that this group is anywhere near as capable as either of those teams, but last night is going to help them believe that when the contests are close, they just have to keep their heads, and they can get a win. We will win a few more of these types of games now.

Exactly the point I was making in the other thread that I got shot down for (by BD )

[Madden]

We NEEDED to win a game like that. Once again poor kicking for goal almost cost us a game we should never had looked like losing. I know Vossy was carrying on about how Richmond had control of the game around the ground, but I couldnt disagree with him more. We controlled the play for about 70% of the contest last night, but just couldnt convert. That's the sort of game we have always lost in the last two years.

Think about the big turning point games this club has had in the last 25 years. Neale Daniher stealing that game from Carlton in the mid-80's, that set up our next 3 years. The come from behind against Carlton early in 93, when we were 3 goals down with minutes to play, then drew level, and Kernahan kicked it out on the full. I'm not saying for one minute, that this group is anywhere near as capable as either of those teams, but last night is going to help them believe that when the contests are close, they just have to keep their heads, and they can get a win. We will win a few more of these types of games now.

Agree. Winning a game where you played like crap is one of the signs of a good side. It was great to get the win.

[robrulz5]

It was good that we never lied down in the last quarter. A great effort.

[BenDoolan]

We NEEDED to win a game like that. Once again poor kicking for goal almost cost us a game we should never had looked like losing. I know Vossy was carrying on about how Richmond had control of the game around the ground, but I couldnt disagree with him more. We controlled the play for about 70% of the contest last night, but just couldnt convert. That's the sort of game we have always lost in the last two years.

Think about the big turning point games this club has had in the last 25 years. Neale Daniher stealing that game from Carlton in the mid-80's, that set up our next 3 years. The come from behind against Carlton early in 93, when we were 3 goals down with minutes to play, then drew level, and Kernahan kicked it out on the full. I'm not saying for one minute, that this group is anywhere near as capable as either of those teams, but last night is going to help them believe that when the contests are close, they just have to keep their heads, and they can get a win. We will win a few more of these types of games now.

I agree to an extent robbie. Those comeback games were against top sides and not the bottom team. However, since watching the Sunday Footy Show, I've changed my tune. McVeigh spoke about the game and made some comments that made me re-think. He said that Richmond are getting one week closer to a win. They are getting more desperate with every game, and they (Essendon) knew they were in for a tough battle and got one. That does make a lot of sense.

Thinking about how we were last year and how we ran good teams close to losing (Bulldogs, Eagles, St. Kilda) is an example of that. I guess my frustration was thinking back to the Carlton game in R3 - Carlton haven't won a game since.....and Richmond haven't won a game at all. But aside from that, it was great to snatch a win from behind with some desperate footy in the last 10 minutes - particularly from unlikely hero's in Watson, Hille, McPhee and Dyson.

So overall, to win a game where we played poor footy for most of the night(crap conversion rate), is a good sign!

[Sismis]

Last year we would have lost this game. We are seriously growing some heart muscle!

[billyduckworth]

Winning/losing the close ones has a huge impact on team morale/confidence. If we had won even some of the close ones last year, we would have won a lot more games.

So let's hope it's a good sign. The next 3 weeks will really tell us how much (or how little) we have improved on last year.

[robbie67]

Sorry to drag this up again, but I just KNEW that win over Richmond was important.

[Rossoneri]

Sorry to drag this up again, but I just KNEW that win over Richmond was important.

Last year we lost alot of games by less than a goal or two.

This year, we are winning them. The confidence of this team has grown, and its bloody good to see.