Brisbane Lions Vice-Captain Daniel Rich says the win over Essendon was all about the team’s younger players and giving them belief for the future.

“I am just stoked for the young guys to experience that which will give them a bit of extra belief moving forward,’’ Rich told The Courier-Mail.

“It would be a hard way to go through your first year without winning … I am as happy for those young guys as anyone to be honest.’’

“It doesn’t matter to us who the opponent was. Wins fix a lot of things. We have always had belief as a group that we were working toward something.”

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The average age of the team on Sunday was just over 22, while five young players sung the song for the first time after the win at Etihad Stadium – Rhys Mathieson, Eric Hipwood, Matt Hammelmann, Ben Keays and Reuben William.

“This does add some extra belief to the younger guys to actually get a win next to your name. It’s just that bit more than an honourable loss or hearing some good things about your game in review.

“It’s proof of what can be done if things are done right.’’

Rich was one of the best for the Lions, and he wants to finish the year by building on his consistency in performance.

“It was not too bad I suppose. There were quite a few things I didn’t do well and they always come to mind first, but I would take a win any day,’’ he said.

‘‘It is what we needed more than anything.

“It is always nice to play your part, especially as a leader. I haven’t had a wonderful year to be honest, bit up and down for sure.’’

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