Bomber coach Kevin Sheedy hopes James Hird takes his time to return to Melbourne from Perth. Sheedy visited the Bomber skipper on Sunday after he had surgery for facial fractures and said he wasn’t in too good of a condition. “My position is for him to stay there for two weeks and take time out - hopefully he does.” Sheedy denied allegations that this injury will put an end to Hird’s career. “There has been many players that have played well after such an injury – Dunstall is a prime example. I think Essendon supporters can expect to see Hird back later in the season.”

Q. Hird just seems to have bad luck with injuries and it is the way he plays the game - hard at it....
A. He has always been that type of player. It is just apart of the game, that is what happens. Centre-half forwards seem to be getting injured all of their lives - how many centre-half-forwards would have played over 300 games?

Q. No LLoyd, no Hird and three loses out of four games - what is the feeling like at the club?
A. We are not happy - but we want to get back on the winners list as soon as possible. But that is the context of the whole season at the moment - there is probably Brisbane and 15 other clubs trying to catch them. At the moment you would have to say we have a long way to go now. We all know what our fans are like - we will be out there Friday night trying our backsides off and we expect as many Essendon supporters to get there.

Q. When is the last time you remember that Essendon was in such a vulnerable position?
A. Probably I would have to say last Grand Final week - probably the start of 1999. To come back from Perth kicking three goals.

Q. Do you think the side is playing very well?
A. It is hard to assess the Anzac Day game - we have gone from there over to the biggest ground in Australia and probably the best weather you could cop. We would have liked to have played better but don't deny Fremantle. I don't think Fremantle are getting any credit over here and I think they should and their young players in particular.