Essendon coach James Hird says he is looking forward to the challenge of being tested from a coaching perspective.
“I have really enjoyed coaching so far, and obviously there are a lot of challenges to it, but the real heat is yet to come. From a coaching point of view, I’d like to get into the game as soon as possible and see what it is really like,” Hird said.
In the lead up to Round One of the NAB Cup, Hird said the coaching group’s main focus is on match practice.
“My priority is to get in some match practice. We’d like to think we have a competitive team so we are looking forward to seeing how we go,” Hird said.
“Having games one and three [in the NAB Cup draw], we will have to spread our team out and we will be giving game opportunities to anyone who is fit. Whoever is fit, we will be playing those guys.”
Hird said he was pleased with the efforts of the playing group and stated there have been noticeable physical improvements from across the board.
“The whole squad has improved and that has certainly been a bonus for us as a coaching group to have seen a lot of that improvement, and their improved physical capabilities. It has also been pleasing to see the way they have embraced a lot of the game styles we want them to play”.
Watch the James Hird press conference here on Bomber TV
While pleased with the group's improvements, Hird said judgements could not be made until the players had the opportunity to run on to the field against other teams.
“We are still two or three weeks away from being tested on the ground against other teams, and that will be interesting. Ultimately, we are looking for improvement during the whole year, and while there has been noticeable improvement with their physical capabilities, we still have to put that to the track.”
Asked about recently injured players including David Hille and Tayte Pears, Hird placed significant importance on gradual recovery programs.
“I have really enjoyed coaching so far, and obviously there are a lot of challenges to it, but the real heat is yet to come. From a coaching point of view, I’d like to get into the game as soon as possible and see what it is really like,” Hird said.
In the lead up to Round One of the NAB Cup, Hird said the coaching group’s main focus is on match practice.
“My priority is to get in some match practice. We’d like to think we have a competitive team so we are looking forward to seeing how we go,” Hird said.
“Having games one and three [in the NAB Cup draw], we will have to spread our team out and we will be giving game opportunities to anyone who is fit. Whoever is fit, we will be playing those guys.”
Hird said he was pleased with the efforts of the playing group and stated there have been noticeable physical improvements from across the board.
“The whole squad has improved and that has certainly been a bonus for us as a coaching group to have seen a lot of that improvement, and their improved physical capabilities. It has also been pleasing to see the way they have embraced a lot of the game styles we want them to play”.
Watch the James Hird press conference here on Bomber TV
While pleased with the group's improvements, Hird said judgements could not be made until the players had the opportunity to run on to the field against other teams.
“We are still two or three weeks away from being tested on the ground against other teams, and that will be interesting. Ultimately, we are looking for improvement during the whole year, and while there has been noticeable improvement with their physical capabilities, we still have to put that to the track.”
Asked about recently injured players including David Hille and Tayte Pears, Hird placed significant importance on gradual recovery programs.
“Hille has pulled up sore again with his knee so he is likely to miss a bit of the NAB Cup and Pears is back running. We need Tayte to be slow with his recovery and we need to make sure we take our time with him, we don’t want to put any pressure on him.”
Opening the batting for the Bombers cricket team at the ‘Australia Day goes GloBALL’ cricket match, Hird said it was a wonderful initiative from both Cricket Victoria and the Essendon Football Club.
“Today was a great day, not only because of the cricket match but because of the joint GloBALL program with the Bushrangers, helping new migrants to Australia through sport”.
Watch the James Hird press conference here on Bomber TV
