That was a rough night at the footy on two fronts.

Not only were my Bombers obliterated by 56 points by the Hawks, but off the field, the night was further soured by a pair of Hawthorn supporters hurling drug-related abuse at Essendon players from the first siren to the last.

Sure, a bit of opposition banter in the crowd is all part of watching a game of AFL footy live, but what went on this night was over the top.

These two blokes were relentless in their jibes about “coming off for another jab are you” as an Essendon player was rotated through the interchange; “the drugs mustn’t be working tonight” as the Hawks kicked further in front; “going inside to pop more pills are you” as the Bombers left the ground at half-time… and plenty of others to crude to print here.

That’s only my experience from one night, but I’m sure Bomber players and supporters have been putting up with such sledging of some sort at every Essendon game for the past two years.

Like the night a month before that Hawthorn game when Jobe Watson was booed at Patersons Stadium every time he touched the ball against West Coast.

For in the court of public opinion on the Essendon supplements saga, it would seem the Bombers have been deemed guilty until proven innocent.

You know, I always thought it was meant to be the other way around.

There’s no shortage of people over the past 112 weeks who have lined up Essendon with pot shots, like those pair of Hawthorn clowns, and have now been made to eat their words, but all that matters to me is the players have been cleared.

They’re free to get on with the game and do what they do best – play footy without the threat of a doping ban and stain of being branded a drug cheat hanging over their heads, for there is no worse tag to be associated with as an athlete.

Essendon has been smashed from pillar to post the past two years, and while the club brought it on itself with its lack of governance that among the punishments cost us a spot in the 2013 finals - to Carlton of all clubs - I’m still Bomber member No. 1665975 out of loyalty to the players, who have done me proud every week they have taken to the field through all 45 games with a cloud hovering above them.

And while I may be accused of having my black and red glasses on, I’ve remained loyal to the most polarising figure in football the past two years – coach James Hird (pictured) – always on the proviso that Essendon was cleared of taking banned substances and no player suspended.

For if the Essendon players at the centre of the saga were going to #StandByHird as many publicly did, especially the night The Weapon gave his interview to Luke Darcy in July of 2013, so to was I.

I’ve always said that I will never get over the 1999 one-point preliminary final choke to Carlton until Essendon win a flag it’s not expected to.

Sure, we won the premiership the following year in 2000, but so we should have with the team we had.

However, considering we Essendon folk have spent the past two years shrouded in uncertainty and concern that we could become associated with a club found to have used banned substances, to hear Tuesday’s not guilty verdict and - regardless of what some people may still believe - that the club and players have been cleared is about as good as winning that unexpected flag.

Now, bring on Saturday against the Swans up at ANZ Stadium.

And to those two Hawthorn supporters, time for some new material lads.