Essendon coach JamesHird said the Bombers' come-from-behind win over Adelaide at AAMI Stadium onFriday night revealed the true character of the club.

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The Bombers recordedtheir third consecutive victory and consolidated their position within the topeight with the 11-point win, which seemed highly unlikely after Hird’s sidekicked just two first-half goals and trailed by as many as 37 points in thesecond quarter.

A six-goal final termand nine of the final 10 goals of the game saw Essendon record its first win atAAMI Stadium since the opening round of the 2007 season, and Hird said the mentaltoughness of his group explained the 48-point turnaround.

""I think the onething that I think our guys at Essendon are getting slowly ... is the belief inthemselves,"" Hird said after the match.

""Six goals is abig margin, [but] there was real belief tonight that no matter how far we werebehind we would come back and make it a fight in the end.""

Hird said the Bombers'gutsy wins against Richmond last week and now Adelaide proved that the club washeading in the right direction after a mid-season slump.

""The character ofour place has probably been harshly judged over the last year or so,particularly when we lost five in a row,"" he said.

""The character ofour leaders has been harshly judged. I think people just get sick of losingafter a while.""

One man who stood upunder the spotlight for the Bombers was Angus Monfries, who collected acareer-high 35 possessions along with a goal and six inside 50s.

The dashing SouthAustralian was criticised during the week for staging for free kicks, but the 24-year-oldshowed he was not afraid to find the contested footy with a best-on-groundperformance against Adelaide.

""[Tonight] is goodreward for them ... to win in Adelaide (after being) six goals down athalf-time, that's a pretty good sign that we've improved,"" Hird said.

After quelling Richmondspearhead Jack Riewoldt last week, utility Michael Hurley was moved into attackby Hird after the Bombers failed to kick a goal in the opening term.

The 21-year-oldfinished with eight marks and two goals, including a crucial score midwaythrough the final term to spark Essendon’s late-game avalanche.

""It took a whilefor the move to work; it probably took until the second half,"" Hird said.

""But it gave us abit of extra structure and someone to kick to in our forward line.""

The Bombers now facethe biggest test of their finals credentials over the next fortnight againsttraditional rivals Carlton and Collingwood.

The Bombers are certainto be buoyed by the return of skipper Jobe Watson from a hamstring injury forhis first outing since round 14.

""We were on theverge of playing him this week,"" Hird said.

""There was a bigdebate at selection and big debate with Jobe on Wednesday when we told him hewasn't playing.""

""He thought he wasright to play.""

Essendon will also havethe luxury of an eight-day break to prepare for Blues before their Saturdaynight clash at the MCG.

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