Beamer fronted the press conference with Neeld, could just be his turn, but reckon it's a bit of a nod to his form turnaround tonight and leadership

Love Beamer, but probably would have liked either Grimes or Trenners to do the presser with coach

Pity Big Jim wasnt here to see it........

He may not be here, but he would have seen it.

Heard on the train home: "we couldnt play it our way, they made us play it their way"

"Hard to play against" is starting.

Yeah it was a real free-flowing 5 goal-a-piece shoot out lol

Show some humility boy and admit you were wrong.

Read what I just said RR - I was talking about player freedom to follow natural footy instincts - not following complicated game plans etc.

Boys said afterwards the 2 key words before this game were Intent and Courage.

That and the key moves of Grimes in the middle and Garland up forward.

My 11 year old son said i nearly cried i was so happy dad.......stick with em son!

Couldn't think of a better team to beat on this very special Saturday night!!!

Honestly Hardnut, just enjoy the win!

Bomber Blitz has gone into meltdown!.....up to page 15 already on the post match discussion....

Wasn't at the game - but being at an don's supporters house was the next best thing! Great to see, but being realistic about next week - a hard slog. But I did say I would be happy with under 100 points this week...

AS much as I hate the Pies and Carlton, ever since the 2000 Grand Final I HATE Essendon. That felt really good tonight. Skillful? - not particularly. Great forward spread? - ummm no. But great gut-wrenching, hard at it, never-give up, mongrel footy and the free flowing Essendon crumbled.

Can't agree more. Great Win by the boys. If we only win once a year I'd take essendon every time!! Go Watts!

Do you have any idea what you are talking about RR? This game was played very much more freely - more of an open, running anywhere contest, not stoppages around the boundary line etc ., etc. ...

Even the commentators could see that!

Neeld has been reading your posts - that's the only possible explanation.

Honestly Hardnut, just enjoy the win!

I do my friend, but after so long I want more than one win - maybe I'm just not easily satisfied! Forgive my obsessive desire for the ultimate prize!

Special mention to Jack Grimes - real captain's game tonight. Led by example.

It's great to love the footy again. Replay is on and its quarter time......think I'll enjoy it even more this time.

The backline were superb tonight, Nicho and Riv especially.

Life is good!

Read what I just said RR - I was talking about player freedom to follow natural footy instincts - not following complicated game plans etc.

Being able to defend a slender lead for over 10 minutes has nothing to do with "free flowing football" or "natural footy instincts".

I really liked the way we stood up when they got on mini roll and started coming at us......long time since Ive seen us do that.

My 11 year old son said i nearly cried i was so happy dad.......stick with em son!

I hope the next generation can start to believe and ensure the Demons have a bright future.

Made me really happy to hear that he got behind them!

haven't enjoyed singing the song so much for a long long time

well done boys and congrats to mark neeld on his first win

may there be many more

FCS, Hardnut - we played the same way we have played the rest of the season - the boys just happened to trust each other to do what they were supposed to do IN THE GAMEPLAN.

They played the contested, long ball footy that they have played all year, and they worked hard to be in right places defensively - which some have said curtails their 'natural instincts.'

Well, this game was a sign that their natural instincts are being 'repaired' or 'evolved' into something that helps us do what we never did under Bailey, NEVER:

Win a slog of a game of hard, tough footy against a top 4 team (don't laugh they are 8 and 2) in good form.

We just did that because the boys are buying into what Neeld is saying and trusting their teammates to do their job.

Check the replay and you'll see Neeld coaching almost every second.....every stoppage he was counting the number of players around the ball.

Every deviation from the plan was duly noted.

I'm really excited to see what happens when theses blokes get really fit.

Big thumbs up to the fella that rang up SEN to sing "can we play you every week?" to the bombers fans.

Firstly for Jim, he would of been proud

Secondly for Neeld, how anyone has deserved this its him, did his job, celebrated the win, and ran to the box to thank his coaches while letting the players have their moment

It really was the first 22 man 4 quarter effort weve had in a very long time. Every single player stood up and was accounted for.

Watts put old demons to bed with Hurley, his contest at the end with Jobe won us the game, Jobe was getting Essendon into the game and he beat him one on one

Jamar Moloney Sylvia really were different players out there

Then there were the usuals... Jones Clark Howe etc

Nicholson ran them ragged, Tom Mcdonald gets better each week

and Rivers put in one of the best defensive shifts this club has seen in ages, was remarkable!

Look at those final images and tell me Neeld has lost the players, that was winning for the coach and fans if ever ive seen one!

I'm really excited to see what happens when theses blokes get really fit.

yep the impressive thing tonight was they neither dropped neither their heads nor their workrate when they fell behind in the 3rd quarter

it would b interesting to ask the bummers who has been the hardest team to play against this year............no, really, us..........thx Neeldy, patience and time!

Cant believe I didnt mention Garland! Stroke of GENIUS