JAMES Hird's long-time mentor Kevin Sheedy has urged against jumping at shadows over his former star player's role in the Essendon supplements saga.
Sheedy, who coached Hird during his stellar playing career, has defended him over allegations he was injected with a WADA-blacklisted substance while coaching the Bombers last year.
The Greater Western Sydney coach urged caution on allegations from former Essendon sports scientist Stephen Dank, saying Hird was limited on what he could say because of the ASADA probe.
"We're jumping at shadows a little bit on this," Sheedy told ABC radio on Friday.
"Lots of people, whether they're coaches or not, have some concerns for their health that they have to take injections."
E-mails reveal Hird's supplement guidelines
Fellow playing great and the man who tied with Hird for the 1996 Brownlow Medal, Brisbane coach Michael Voss, said he felt great sympathy and empathy for him.
"He is a great of the game and, for that reason, I think he deserves to be afforded the chance to state his case," Voss said in Brisbane on Friday.
"While I know everyone wants to know the answers, and I can appreciate that, there is a due process in place and, as a great, I reckon he deserves that chance."
It came after Hird's insistence that he won't stand aside despite AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou saying he should consider it while his club's supplements affair is fully investigated.
Confronted by media in Perth on Friday while preparing for his side's clash with Fremantle, Hird was adamant.
"I won't be stepping down ... I'll get ready for the game," Hird said, adding he was not annoyed by Demetriou's comments.
Hird has been accused by Dank of injecting hexarelin - a growth hormone-releasing substance which is banned for players, though not for coaches.
He also been accused of being well aware of the club's controversial supplement program under Dank - a program being investigated by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA).
Hird has vowed to clear his name over the allegations.
Demetriou told Melbourne radio station 3AW on Friday that Hird should consider standing aside, then returning to the job if cleared.
Drug allegations very disturbing: Demetriou
"As he goes through his thought process ... that is an option he has to consider," Demetriou said.
"He has got an outstanding position in this game. He's been a wonderful servant to the Essendon Football Club, an ornament to AFL football.
"He's entitled to be able to put his position forward, which he will get the opportunity (to do) next week with ASADA.
"In the interim, those are the things that will have to cross his mind when he's contemplating what he's going to say to ASADA."
Demetriou stopped short of saying he'd prefer Hird to step aside.
But he said he was disappointed with the allegations which have engulfed both Hird and Essendon - admitting the more he found out in briefings about the issue, the more concerned he became.
"You can't help but be disappointed, particularly as you find out more and understand more about what was going on," Demetriou said.
"You'd appreciate I've got briefings that are more advanced than what's in the public domain. I think it's terribly important that we now get the investigations finalised quickly.
"Then we can get to the truth."
Full statement from David Evans
Allegations surfaced on Thursday that Essendon players were injected with a variety of substances to enhance their performance and well-being - including bizarre concoctions including pig's brain and bark extracts.
News Limited reports on Friday said Hird would admit to receiving two injections from Dank - both for health reasons - believing they were legal amino acids.
It said Hird would tell that to ASADA when he met with investigators next week.
Demetriou also shrugged off the possibility of any widespread issue with on-the-edge supplement use in the AFL, saying Essendon was the only club causing concern.
