Hird says Bombers will resist urge to swing the axe

ESSENDON hopes a frank discussion between players and coaches the morning after the 110-point loss to St Kilda has paved the way for the Bombers to rediscover their spirit and form over the remaining weeks of the season.

Coach James Hird said “a very honest conversation’’ with the playing group gave him confidence they would bounce back against Melbourne at the MCG tomorrow.

“It’s really been about challenging them about why that performance was what it was,’’ Hird said.

“Is there still issues around ASADA? We spoke openly about if there were issues we wanted to know about it ... because this is a performancebased industry and if you don’t perform you won’t play, and you continue to not perform then you won’t be on the list.

“What gives me confidence is that they’re good people.’’

Hird conceded everyone involved in the loss to St Kilda was embarrassed.

But he said he would resist the temptation to make major omissions.

“They played without the endeavour and spirit that we would have liked, but we’re confident that will come back, and if that comes back these guys can play football,” he said.

Hird said he would select the best available team.

“But also with the injuries we’ve got we’ll play a lot of young players,” he said.

“On [that] performance we could tip half of the team out and no one would be shocked, but we’re not going to do that.

“We’ve got some forced changes with [injuries to skipper Jobe Watson and veteran Adam Cooney] so that’s two already, and there’ll be another three or four changes.’’

Hird said Watson had shoulder surgery on Wednesday and “the doctors are very happy with the operation’’.

He said Cooney would miss at least two weeks with a hamstring strain.