After 18 seasons in the AFL, the Suns sealed their first finals berth with a 95-point thumping of Essendon at People First Stadium. It’s a result that will be remembered as the club’s most significant night since entering the competition in 2011.

Coach Damien Hardwick said his players had carried the weight of history into the contest.

“We probably felt a little bit tight in the previous two weeks, didn’t handle our moments as well as we should,” he said. “We put that to bed tonight, got the monkey off our back a little bit, I’d say. I’m really proud of the way our players responded.”

Hardwick, who coached Richmond to three premierships, admitted he had little interest in trying to overhype the occasion before the game.

“If you need me to sit there and give you a motivational speech to want to play in your first finals campaign in our organisation’s history, then you’re playing the wrong game,” he said.

The Suns entered the final round with everything to play for after back-to-back losses to Port Adelaide and Hawthorn. Rather than crumble under the pressure, they produced one of the most complete performances in the club’s history.

From the first bounce, the signs were there. Key forward Ben King was potent with seven majors of his own, while Matt Rowell and Suns captain Noah Anderson dominated out of the middle against an injury plagued Essendon.

The win not only secured seventh spot but sparked celebrations that have been a long time coming for a club the football world has questioned its very existence. Their elimination final will be played against Fremantle at Optus Stadium next week, but for Suns supporters, the result against Essendon was already a form of victory.

“We’ve certainly got a team identity. I think it stands up in big games,” Hardwick said. “I’m confident if we play our best, we’re a very, very good chance of winning.”