Mark Robinson's hard-hitting column The Tackle is back. Picture: Michael Klein Source: HWT Image Library
ESSENDON coach James Hird said it as nicely as he could, that his team had lacked resilience in times of troubles.
In less flattering words, that his team had collapsed under pressure and expectation, that they were softish.
It's why Friday night's win over Adelaide was important on many fronts, all of it with a backdrop of syringes and drugs and inappropriate activities.
The fact was Essendon, after being three goals down and perhaps consumed by self-doubt, won on the back of intent.
Intent drove their defensive mindset and actions, and together with superb coaching, and individual standout games from Howlett, Watson, Hocking, Carlisle and Dempsey, the Bombers announced themselves as a team to consider worthy of serious consideration.
It's why Friday night will be a reference point for the Bombers as the season progresses and why Richmond should draw reference from Essendon's performance.
These two teams, with North Melbourne, St Kilda, Brisbane and Carlton, are peas in a pod. They sat mid-table last year and all need to improve if they are to play finals in 2013.
Intent is not the single most defining factor in either winning or losing, but without it, the odds of winning plummet.
After the ramshackle start against the Crows, the Bombers won the tackle count (73-47) and squared the contested ball after the 12th minute of the first quarter.
Patrick Dangerfield was set upon, the ruckmen kept jumping into Sam Jacobs, missed tackles were rare, numbers were at the contest, mids pushed back, forwards pushed up, the back half attacked wide and through the corridor - so much so that the Crows were dismantled at their own so-called fortress.
Like it or not, the Tigers have been soft in their Round 1 encounters against Carlton.
Since 2007, they have played six times, and Richmond has been smashed four times in contested footy and four times in the tackle count.
The year they won the contested ball and squared the tackle count was in 2008, when the Tigers won by 30 points, their only victory in the six outings.
Winning both these categories gives you a margin of success. In 2012, if you won in both areas you won 74 per cent of games.
It's not rocket science, but it is, and always is in football, a science of the mind.
The Tigers have plenty of positives.
Their ball movement is frighteningly quick - remember the Swans and Hawks wins in 2012? - they have midfield talent and depth, more options in the front half other than Jack Riewoldt and a defence now headed by Troy Chaplin.
But when you beat the grand finalists and then lose close games to Geelong, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide and, heavens above, Gold Coast in the same year, the obvious question is: are they mentally fragile?
The answer is yes.
Against Carlton in Round 1s, it is clearly yes.
The intent to show intent is evident, however.
They won close games in the pre-season, which also is a reference point, and even coach Damien Hardwick has announced it's time.
And just yesterday, new captain Trent Cotchin featured in an advert about the season ahead.
In a moving realisation of where his team is and where it wants to get to, Cotchin spoke of Sydney's summer of celebration, while 17 other teams had a summer of reflection.
"We have been waiting," he said, "for redemption to prove things to ourselves, each other, our families, fans and to our opposition."
They are wonderful words. But still only words.
Because, really, we're sick and tired of hearing how the Tigers are going to do it.
Thursday night can't come quick enough.
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