THERE'S a few things we could easily find ourselves getting caught up in after Essendon's systematic, record-beating 139-point thumping of the Gold Coast at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

One would obviously be the records themselves, and they certainly deserve credit.

Essendon's score of 15 goals and four behinds, for a total of 94, was the highest first-quarter score in AFL/VFL history. With a lead of 93 points over the Suns, it was also the biggest ever margin at quarter-time, eclipsing the 71-point lead Melbourne held over North Melbourne in round two, 1972.

The barnstorming start will also go down as the equal second-highest score ever in a quarter.

Another easy talking point of the game would be to celebrate Kyle Reimers' eight-goal effort. Again, it is worthy of praise, but more for reasons beyond merely kicking a bag against an inexperienced opposition.

Reimers, as Hird said after the game, has been made to earn his place in Essendon's side.

He played two excellent VFL games for Bendigo Bombers before getting a recall to the seniors last week against Collingwood. There, he was named the substitute and only played a little over a quarter.

Since Hird came to the club, Reimers' attitude has been refined to a more team-orientated mindset, while his game style has developed into a hard, skilful, tenacious attack on the ball, combined with a cleverness around goals.

It all came together for him against the Suns, but his season has reflected the attitude of no guarantees at the club under Hird.

"Kyle has worked very hard to get his place in this team. We haven't made it easy for him. We probably could have played him two or three weeks earlier [given] the way he was playing in the reserves, but we want every player who gets a game for Essendon to have to work hard for it and to play as a team," Hird said.

"When you've got a reputation as being an individual, you have to maybe take a couple of steps back to show you are a team player and to prove to the rest of your teammates that you're a team player. He's doing that at the moment."

This, some may say, is where the story out of Essendon's big win truly lies: its ruthlessness, in selection, in performance, and in standards, paying dividends.

At its season launch in March, Hird told the crowd "the players have set out to be ruthless, resilient, honest and selfless."

Captain Jobe Watson echoed such thoughts: "The disappointment of last season provided a real perspective about where we were at and how we were received by the entire football world," Watson said.

"As a football club, we knew what Essendon stood for, and as a playing group we knew absolutely this was not how we wanted to be seen."

In its commanding win over the Suns, you got the feeling the Bombers were thinking less about records and individuals and more about a collective performance, a reputation to restore, and a team ethic to sustain. It's a healthy outlook.