Essendon coach James Hird is at odds with the AFL again, angry that six Bombers were stopped from taking part in a special training session.
The match simulation on Friday afternoon at Essendon’s Tullarmarine headquarters featured players from VFL team Williamstown.
It was organised to give extra training for the 21 Essendon players who are sitting out the pre-season until the AFL anti-doping tribunal hands down its verdicts.
On Saturday, Essendon will play their opening NAB Challenge match against St Kilda in Morwell.
Essendon also wanted six players who were not at the club in 2012 – Brendon Goddard, Adam Cooney, James Gwilt, Joe Daniher, Zach Merrett and Patrick Ambrose – to be part of Friday’s session.
But the AFL, mindful of St Kilda and the fans at Morwell, said if those six players were not playing on Saturday then they also should not be part of the special hitout.
“We would have thought if Brendon Goddard was to play any competitive football, then that would be in Morwell,” AFL operations manager Mark Evans told the league’s website.
Hird said it should have been Essendon’s call.
“We’re disappointed those (five) players aren’t part of that session, but it is what it is and the AFL run the competition,” Hird said.
“Every club should be allowed to pick their team for round one of the NAB Challenge and prepare for round one of the regular season the way they choose.”
Collingwood president Eddie McGuire also bought into the issue, saying the Saints would be “filthy” if Essendon players took part in the Friday training session rather than play on Saturday.
“I don’t really care what Eddie McGuire thinks,” was Hird’s response.
Essendon’s pre-season squad features 13 top-up players brought in while the club waits for the anti-doping tribunal verdict.
The tribunal is considering charges against 34 current and former Essendon player relating to the club’s 2012 supplements scandal.
“We have our reasons why the team is playing tomorrow as they are,” Hird said.
“We have six guys who won’t be getting any competitive practice, I suppose, but we will train them in the right way today and get them ready to round one.
“We’ve had a lot of obstacles to jump over in the last two years and we’ve jumped over most of them.
“We’ll do it again.”
He added there were various reasons why the six players were kept out of the NAB Challenge squad.
Hird was asked if his makeshift team can beat the Saints.
“I don’t see why not,” he said.
“I don’t think anyone goes into a NAB Challenge game too concerned about winning or losing, it’s how we play.”
Leblanc
Guest
I think the Afl is going to kick Essendon whenever it can now. The longer Hird stays the worse it will be. I'm excited about the season starting, then realised this crap was still going on.
Don Freo
Guest
So the AFL is now dictating how clubs manipulate pre-season training processes? I wonder of they are aware that Freo rested Aaron Sandilands for the last game. Is it only James who is not allowed to manage his pre-season?
Aransan
Guest
Jakarta, note the following: "Goddard played six of a possible seven pre-season games in his first two years at Essendon, getting in more than six hours of match conditioning. The former Saint played 236 minutes in four games under Hird in 2013, the year he won Essendon’s best-and-fairest. Merrett and Daniher played all three pre-season games last year, with the father-son selection clocking up 80 per cent of game time." Essendon, and especially Hird, have to be very careful that they are not seen to be thumbing their noses at the AFL.
Jakarta Jeff
Guest
Aranson questions why Eseendon didn't play eligible players in Round 1 of the NAB. Look at every team in the AFL - they all didn't play some eligible players in Rd.1. Why? Firstly, they want to manage the loads of their prime players to be ready for 1st game of the season not the NAB. Secondly, they want to play a lot of young players and see how they're tracking and which ones look ready to step us. Thirdly, especially for Essendon, they have to start playing all the potential top-ups and get them ready as in the event of suspensions, they will be the team that plays Sydney in the season opener. All this says that EFC's team management for last weekend's games was highly appropriate and no different to what any other club would do as a preparation to get their best team ready for the start of the season.
Col in paradise
Guest
Hird shouldn't be coaching..at a minimum completely incompetent and as Manager therefore he should take responsibility. But nope his ego wont let him.... Don't believe he is allowed to coach....even if technically he can if he was a man of honour as Head coach he should admit he failed and step down....the league has set a lousy example...and the regional clubs and the Juniors who are right into performance enhancing and bulk building up drugs now can just take the lead of the so called professional examples and go for it..and mark my words it is rife in the Regional juniors...wont even mention the recreational drugs..people will sow what they reap... The Bombers I hope implode this year with the lies deceit and huge ego's being the main factors...
Radelaide
Guest
Tell me about it, if in 2013 they had just cut a deal like Cronulla did this would be all long in the past, Hird would've done his time (like he did), the players season would've been derailed and not played in finals (like they did) and Ryder would still be there plus a lot of hassle and money saved. Too many sycophants down there at Windy Hill letting Hird run the asylum.
Aransan
Guest
Lroy, I believe 18 Essendon players are provisionally suspended at the moment. The AFL has two matters to consider, firstly that these players do not play in anything that could be considered to be a match or any future backdated suspension will only date from the last match that they played in. The second matter is that the AFL has to ensure the integrity of the NAB competition, it is very puzzling as to why Essendon didn't play eligible players in the NAB Cup yesterday but wanted to play them in the simulation instead. We should all be patient, expect a resolution of this drama in the next week or so. Hopefully all this click-bait will then disappear.
Lroy
Guest
Its a concern when the AFL steps in and tells a club who can and cant be selected. Pre season matches are all about switching blokes around, managing their load. Whats wrong with one group having a simulated match practice on Friday night while another lineup plays the Saints on Saturday? Is it just me or is it still the case that NOBODY knows who is going to be suspended or even IF anyone will be suspended?? Time for the AFL to rule a line under this once and for all.. either charge people NOW.. or simply state the facts, that to date, there is NO concrete evidence that proves anyone at Essendon took a banned substance, the investigation is over and the players are free to resume their lives. Im not a Bombers fan by the way, Id be happy to see them win the spoon.
Pope Paul vii
Guest
Good Goddard it's not your fight.
Bobbo7
Guest
Not a major deal, but the fact Hird is still allowed anywhere near an AFL club is. The AFL and Essendon are a complete joke. Drug your players, deny any knowledge, lose your records, court, whinge, convince the supporters you are the legend they blindly believe you are and all is well.
Penster
Guest
James and the Giant Impeach.
AR
Guest
Nah, I'm sure Jobe and Gil were just sitting sround chatting about the weather.
Casper
Guest
So now you think there is something sinister about Jobe meeting with McLaclan. Better loosen that tin foil hat.
pat mccann
Guest
will all non essendon supporters please go and whinge about your own clubs as i am sure there are lots to whinge about there and stop looking for something that is not there with essendon i for one just want to get on with football without people making stupid comments.
Judy Atu
Guest
who's with me on OMG I"M OVER ALL THIS CRAP! !!!
AR
Guest
Is that the same Jobe Watson who requested a private meeting with McLachlan? Did Jobe suggest Hird attend that meeting as well?...given, you know, they're so united and all.
Casper
Guest
Gee, thanks for your concern. Make sure you head out to Morwell today and report back to us about anything untoward that the club gets up to. Remember, the more petty the incident the better. Btw, I saw a photo of Jobe Watson wearing a cap in yesterday's hit out, so yeah, definately looked like a proper practice match.
samw
Guest
I don't think Hird or his supporters understand that professionalism entails ethics.
Gecko
Guest
Looks like both parties are spitting the dummy. The AFL is intervening in a training session (I didn't realise they could do that) 'coz it's annoyed that those 6 players aren't playing in the NAB cup. Those 6 players have withdrawn from the NAB cup presumably as part of a collective Essendon dummy spit.
AR
Guest
Who's talking about "crimes" or "heinous acts"..? I'm simply commending the Essendon FC for maintaining such consistent professionalism throughout this saga.