Essendon captain James Hird will miss the next three to four weeks with a broken rib. Hird will be released from hospital this afternoon after spending last night there as a precautionary measure. He did not require any surgery.

Tests this morning revealed Hird's internal bleeding had stopped. The blood will be allowed to naturally dissipate rather than being removed surgically. There has been no damage to internal organs.

Hird sustained the injury after a heavy clash with Richmond defender Ray Hall. He left the ground immediately and was taken to hospital for observation.

The Hird injury is yet another blow to the Bombers who are already without a number of senior players. Scott Lucas will also miss the next two matches with a hamstring injury.