""It is just great to see a guy who has been through a lot over the last 12 months come out and play footy again. It is just fantastic that he is over the problems he's had. He's a great bloke and his attitude towards the club, towards everyone and towards his illness has been terrific, he's been so positive and we'd all just love to have him back playing footy.
``Adam's an inspiring person, he's a sort of a happy go luck chap around the club but you can tell beneath there is a burning desire to successful and be part of something special and that's inspiring in itself.""
And Ramanauskas will get a baptism of fire this weekend, despite the fact it is only a Wizard Cup game. There has been no love lost between Essendon and Brisbane in recent seasons and the rivalry won’t be forgotten when the two sides hit The Dome.
``It is not a real game, if you win or you lose it is not the consequences of a four point game. But they are benchmark of the competition and you always like to test yourself out. So this is probably a step up from a normal Wizard Cup game for us,"" Hird said.
``If you win this game your membership gets better because the signs for the season ahead will be good. It also gives the chance for the younger guys who have not played a lot of senior footy to really test themselves out in match-like conditions. If you get on the country circuit probably the games arena't taken as seriously, and the surfaces aren't as good and the crowds aren’t as good either.""
Hird was unsure if he would be tagged this Saturday night.
""I don't know. It's a Wizard Cup game, maybe, maybe not, it is not something I'm losing sleep over or really wondering about. For us it is about getting out there, running around and trying to get fit for round one and playing Port Adelaide. It would be a great win, but it still is getting ready for Port Adelaide,"" he said.
Hird said Brisbane’s Jonathon Brown – a standout against Hawthorn last weekend – had developed into one of the stars of the competition. But he didn’t sell teammate Matthew Lloyd short when it came to the question of who is the best forward in the competition.
""I think Matthew Lloyd's the most imposing forward in the competition,"" Hird said.
And when asked what he had that Jonathon Brown didn’t?
""A record of 100 goals and three Coleman Medals. I think Jonathan Brown is a very, very good player, don't get me wrong, but I'd back Lloydy every day and I don't think there is anything wrong with that,"" he said.
