James Hird's family has flown to Perth to be by his side as he recovers from surgery to repair multiple fractures around his eye socket. Tania Hird and daughter Stephanie flew out for Perth this morning and will remain with James until he returns to Melbourne. Hird underwent surgery late last night after a sickening clash with Mark McVeigh in the third quarter of yesterday's clash with Fremantle.

Hird was initially expected to miss eight weeks but the club is hopeful that six weeks might now be a more accurate assessment.