But the Bombers – who opposing coach Nathan Buckley noted tended to favour a high-possession game – failed to adapt to the conditions.
“To have 100 more disposals than the opposition and to play a brand of football that wasn’t suitable for the conditions is very disappointing,” said Hird after the 9.15 (69) to 6.13 (49) loss.
“We played Sydney three weeks ago and played very well in the wet.
“Then we played a brand where you can be competitive in the wet.
“We didn’t play that way today.”
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The Magpies shaded the contested possessions 165-161, but had 89 fewer uncontested possessions than the Bombers and 44 fewer contested marks on a day tailor-made for direct football.
The problem for Essendon was execution, not application.
“You look at the way they cracked in right until the end and it wasn’t about effort,” said Hird.
Essendon lost Paul Chapman to a corked knee midway through the third quarter, robbing them of a hard nut who traditionally excels on difficult days.