JAMES Hird has confirmed he will coach Essendon against North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.

There was some doubt about whether Hird could carry out his usual duties after he was knocked unconscious falling off his bike on the way home from training on Monday evening.

"I feel good. I'm ready to coach tomorrow night," Hird said after the club's final training session at Tullamarine on Thursday morning.

Hird was taken by ambulance to hospital after the heavy fall and returned to work on Wednesday.

The Bombers coach said his role would not change despite the interrupted week.

"Unless I try to move the North Melbourne magnets, then they might stop me, but other than that everything is going well," Hird said.

Hird said first-year forward Kyle Langford would replace Alex Browne in the team against the Roos, with Browne not coming up from the head knock he sustained against Melbourne last Saturday.

Browne, in his first game in two and a half years, was subbed out with concussion after hitting his head on the MCG turf in a Jeremy Howe 'sling tackle'.

James Hird was in good spirits at Essendon training on Thursday. Picture: Getty Images

A decision on whether Jonathan Giles comes into the team to help Shaun McKernan curb North ruckman Todd Goldstein's influence, will be made later on Thursday.

However, Hird said the club's preference was to play one ruckman in the team.

Hird also gave an update on the status of veteran Bombers Paul Chapman and Dustin Fletcher.

The Bombers are hopeful Chapman will play in the club's VFL team this weekend, while Fletcher (groin) remains a couple of weeks away from a return. 

"Someone like Fletch, we've got to get him fit first and then we'll make a decision on whether he does or doesn't play," Hird said.

"We'd love to see Fletch come back into the side at some stage, but his groins are still causing him some issues."

Key Bomber midfielders David Myers (knee) and Heath Hocking (back) are also still a couple of weeks away from returning.

Hird said with so many experienced Bombers out of the side, and with finals out of the frame, the club would learn plenty about its young players.

"It's about playing the way we want to play," Hird said of the club's aim for the rest of the season.

"We've got a very distinct game style that we haven't been able to execute this year, and we're all disappointed about that. 

"With the younger players coming through, we want to define that we can play that way and show that we can play the type of football that wins games."