David Myers says composure and consistency are the biggest challenges of playing footy, particularly in close games like Essendon VFL's loss to Richmond at Windy Hill on Saturday.

The VFL Bombers stayed right on the Tigers’ tails and trailed by just a single point at the last change, but conceded two late goals to just fall short of the win. 

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Despite the frantic and tense final term, which also saw the scores level at the 17-minute mark, Myers “didn’t want to bring anything different”. 

“That’s the challenge of the game – no matter what, you can be consistent and concentrate on the same things minute by minute, quarter by quarter,” Myers said post-match.

“It’s really the same stuff I harp on about in the first quarter, and it’s the same I’ll do at training during the week. It’s the real basics, there’s no secret, it’s just getting it right under pressure.”

The veteran midfielder picked up a game-high 31 disposals on Saturday, to go with his nine clearances, six inside 50s and a goal.

It was his third consecutive appearance as a VFL Don having managed over 30 disposals.

With September just around the corner and the top-four now locked in, Myers is excited by the challenge of meeting Richmond in week one of the finals (date and time yet to be confirmed). 

“Ideally (in games like today) you win, but I thought we still played pretty well. The boys can be proud of their efforts,” he said. 

“Richmond was at full strength, so I’m looking forward to getting another crack at them and hopefully turn it around in a couple of weeks.”

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Having fallen to the Tigers by a combined total of 15 points from their last two meetings, Myers hopes the playing group will take away a sense of belief in them that they can match the best.

“We just need to stick at it, and believe we are good enough. Games like that are an arm-wrestle, sometimes you end up on the right side and sometimes you don’t.

“I’m sure we’ll look at a few little things during the week but for the most part, we’ll just do the same again and be a little bit stronger for longer. 

He also admitted that while he hadn’t thought greatly about the upcoming game against Geelong, if the group “brings what we brought today, we’ll be a good chance”.

Essendon VFL will travel to GMHBA Stadium on Sunday, August 25 to take on the Cats from 11:40am in the final round of the home-and-away season.