Sydney Swans players training at the SCG on Thursday.

Sydney Swans players training at the SCG on Thursday. Photo: Dallas Kilponen



Essendon coach James Hird hopes Sydney's turbulent week will not make the defending premiers a more challenging prospect in Saturday's powerhouse clash at the SCG.


''They're a very difficult prospect anyway, so I hope it doesn't make them more difficult,'' he said on Friday.


''They're a fantastic team, they played very well against Collingwood last week and we've got our work cut out for us.''


Speaking for the first time since Collingwood president Eddie McGuire's racial slur on Swans star Adam Goodes on Melbourne radio on Wednesday, Hird described McGuire's comments as ''very disappointing and hurtful'', but added: ''I know Eddie very well and I know he's not a racist person.


''He's apologised and I think that everyone hopes that that apology's been accepted. Everyone feels for Adam Goodes and people in the indigenous community, that this issue is not a one-off. People of Australia need to realise that it is a very big issue that has to be dealt with.


''But I also believe I know Eddie very well and I know he's not a racist person. He's a person who's done a lot for the community at all levels and someone who is remorseful of what's been said and he will work to make sure he does good for the comments he made.''


Hird said having ''media swirling around your football club for issues other than football, does take your mind off it''.


The Bombers withstood such pressures early this season, winning their first six matches despite the ASADA probe into the club's supplements program last season. They then dropped two matches before toppling Richmond at the MCG, and enter this round one win behind leaders Hawthorn and Geelong. The Swans are two points further back.


With Essendon's ASADA interviews over, Hird praised his players and coaching staff for having maintained their focus and expected the team to produce a strong second half of the season.


They will have to be on song against a Swans side featuring a midfield Hird rates as having the best balance of attack and defense in the league.


''It's not just about winning the ball, it's about defending as well. There's no doubt that their midfield is one of the best.''


A key contest could be between Josh Kennedy and Jobe Watson. ''It would be great to see them go head-to-head,'' Hird said.


''They're in great form. Jobe's winning a lot of his own ball, defending well, and Josh has taken his game to a whole new level in the last 18 months.


''[They] are two of the best inside-midfielders in the competition and it would be great to see them go head-to-head - big-bodied midfielders in a contest would be worth coming to see.''