Hird holds nerve with media pack

Bombers coach James Hird shares a laugh with his assistant Sean Wellman at Essendon training yesterday. Source: Getty Images

JAMES Hird hasn't shaved since Tuesday.

There it is, the latest development in the Essendon drug scandal.

For the past week every move by Hird has been analysed as the football world searches for any little sign of guilt or innocence.

His first public appearance since the infamous meeting with ASADA investigators was a five-minute press conference yesterday morning on the steps below the old grandstand at Windy Hill.

And it was Hird at his classy best.

Imagine Mick Malthouse or Ross Lyon having to deal with his current predicament. They would have been biting the heads off anyone daring to ask them about the weather, let alone the drugs scandal.

Hird kept his cool and his smile as he handled a soft opening question.

"I'm holding up very well," he said. "The team is playing well, which always helps."

He maintained that cool as the expected blowtorch was thrust his way.

"There will be a day when we talk about (the interview). But right at the moment I can't have any comment about the ASADA investigation."

Has it affected his preparation this week?

"It just meant I worked harder on Tuesday night, as I had to get across all the vision. But, no, it hasn't affected our preparation at all or my preparation."

When the developments with Melbourne and the Bombers former sports scientist Stephen Dank was raised, Hird started to lose his enthusiasm for the press conference.

"Again, there will be a time to comment and talk about everything that's happened but right now, it's not appropriate.

"Guys, if we can talk about footy I can talk. But the investigation, I just can't talk about."

And with that Hird had survived. The next couple of minutes were footy questions, which he swatted away beautifully.

How will you avoid a letdown after last week's emotion-charged victory?

"You train hard, you work hard and you work through emotion as it comes," he said. "In terms of our training, we've trained very well this week."

On the players cracking it about the club's TV show broadcasting his post-game speech: "I can understand where the players are coming from and I can also understand the club's point of view.

"The players and the club have had a chat and it's all sorted now . . . it won't happen again."

On Brendon Goddard facing his former team: "There might be a bit of banter . . . good-humoured banter is always a bit of fun out on the field. But I'm sure the players will support Brendon."

He then pumped up the return of Tayte Pears and Jason Winderlich before saying Dustin Fletcher was in the frame to play Anzac Day.

And with that he wandered off on to the ground, a smile appearing as he ran his hands through his three-day growth.

We're sure a lip-reader would have picked up his next words: "Thank God for Melbourne."

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