ON A sorry night at the end of a sad and sorry year, the highlight for Essendon came after the final siren.
Well beaten by Richmond in a largely uninspiring contest at the MCG, the Bombers gathered in the middle of the ground, before setting off on a lap of the boundary to thank their loyal fans.
The response, following a week in which the club was disqualified from the finals, fined $2 million, stripped of draft picks and had its coach suspended for 12 months over its 2011-12 supplement program, was a rousing standing ovation from the red and black faithful.
It was a heartfelt send-off to retiring servants Nathan Lovett-Murray and David Hille, and a show of support to a group of players who have endured more in one season than any group before them.
Stand-in coach Simon Goodwin, who instigated the huddle in the centre circle, said he had spoken of his desire to see the Bombers back on the same spot in a little over a year, this time playing in a final.
"We spoke to the boys about how proud we were of them throughout the year – they've been outstanding," he said.
"The key message was that we've still got some work to do to be the side that we want to be.
"When we next come back to the MCG, we want to come back and play some finals in September.
"These guys won't have the opportunity to do that this year, which is really disappointing for them, but I know the resolve within the group is going to strive to try and fulfil that next year."
Lovett-Murray, who played his 145th and final game for the club, paid tribute to the club's fans for their support through a difficult season.
"It's been a big year and we've been through a lot, and the supporters and fans have been fantastic in supporting us all the way, so we just wanted to pay our respects," he said.
Although disappointed to lose, Goodwin admitted that the overwhelming feeling in the Bombers' camp was relief that the nightmare was over.
He said he hoped the club could use the turmoil of 2013 as motivation for the future.
In that way, there could at least be a positive, he said.
"I think this will burn in people's guts for a long time – not playing finals footy," Goodwin said.
"It's a dream as a kid growing up, and we haven't done a lot of that.
"We've come a long way with this playing group over three years, and we're heading in the right direction.
"We've got a great list with some good players who are playing some good footy and gradually improving.
"I see that as a really exciting path.
"We shouldn't use next year as a down year. We should use it as a year where we can have some success."
