Former Essendon champion James Hird has labelled suggestions that Hayden Skipworth is not a well-respected member of the Essendon playing list as ‘ridiculous’.

Hird said he had spoken to a number of Essendon players surrounding the recent allegations and received a unanimous response that Skipworth was well-liked by both the playing group and head coach.

“My take on the Hayden Skipworth situation is that Hayden has done a remarkable job to come from the Adelaide Crows two and a half years ago to play senior football two and a half years later under a coach who truly believes in him,” Hird told the Herald Sun website.

“I trained with Hayden Skipworth in 2007 and amongst the group he was a much loved player. He was a player who came and immediately found a groove in the club and the way he looked after the younger players during 2007 and 2008 when he was out injured, I think, held him in great regard among all Essendon players.

“To question whether Hayden Skipworth is a player who is liked within the Essendon Football Club is ridiculous.

“I think Hayden has done a tremendous job to come back after a serious knee injury to play the way he has played and been respected by the senior guys at the Essendon Football Club and most importantly by coach Matthew Knights.”