Drug drama "no excuse"

In the wake of the report into the Essendon supplement scandal, James Hird speaks on the Bombers' preparation for its clash with Geelong.

Essendon coach James Hird. Picture: Quinn Rooney. Source: Getty Images

ESSENDON coach James Hird admits the findings of the internal review into the club's supplement practices were difficult to take.

But Hird said there were "no excuses" for his unbeaten Bombers as they prepared for their blockbuster clash against Geelong at Etihad Stadium tomorrow night despite another tough week off-field.

Former Telstra chief Ziggy Switkowski's report that was released on Monday was critical of the club's governance and lack of control over the controversial "exotic'' supplements program.

The Australian Anti-Doping Authority's investigation into the Bombers continues, but Hird would not say which, if any, players had been interviewed this week.

Hird said he was eager for the investigation process to be over, so the club could have its say.

"You never want to read things that are said about your football club like that,'' Hird said when asked about the Switkowski report.

"If you can give us three or four weeks till the ASADA interviews are done and the ASADA and the AFL put out their report ... I think you will get a pretty open football club.

"We will talk about everything that has happened rather than at the moment speak about bits and pieces which won't make a lot of sense.

"As a football club, we want to get through the ASADA interviews, get through the report and then we are able to talk. My preference would be to get them (interviews) done today, but that's not going to happen.

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"The process will take the time it will take, we understand that, but the sooner it is finished, the better it is for everybody.''

Hird again paid tribute to the way his players had handled the off-field distraction to win their opening six games of the season.

"They are playing really good football, they are training really hard,'' Hird said.

"The one thing we have spoken about as a group is to keep our training standard up and if we keep our training standard up that will go into our games.

"As a coach, I couldn't be happier with their attitude around training. There is obviously distractions, but I keep saying I marvel at the group we have got, how they have handled this distractions and move through it and I think it will serve them well.''

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Hird described tomorrow night's clash against the Cats as a "huge game'' for his team.

"It is an opportunity for us to play against the best team in the competition for the last six or seven years,'' he said.

"Our players are excited by that, they beat us quite convincingly last year and really beat us up around the ball and got away to a very good start.

"We know we are in for a very big fight, but it is an exciting time around the footy club to be playing the best team in the competition.''

Hird gave little away about potential changes for tomorrow night's game, but said Brent Stanton faced a fitness test later today to see if he had recovered from a heavy knock to his groin.

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