ESSENDON coach James Hird has conceded for the first time that the club's supplements saga is affecting the form of his players.
Following a week of intense speculation after the AFL received ASADA's interim report into the Bombers' supplements program of 2011-12, Hird's team was handed a 53-point thrashing by West Coast at Etihad Stadium.
It was Essendon's third straight heavy loss, and will see them drop to seventh on the ladder, below Richmond and Collingwood on percentage.
"There's no doubt the speculation, the intensity of the press, and the expectation of what's to come can't help but affect your preparation for a game, and I think that's across the board," Hird said post-match.
"I think the players were affected today.
"I think they were affected during the week – it was a big week in terms of off-field stuff."
The comments were a marked difference from Hird's press conference the day before, where he said Friday's training session was "the best we've had in probably six or seven weeks."
On Sunday, the Bombers won more disposals (397-364) and went inside forward 50 more often (60-51) but were let down by poor kicking and a forward line that again failed to fire.
"I thought we tried, but it didn't work for us today," Hird said.
But the Bombers coach backed his players to regain form in the final three weeks of the home and away season, and maintained the team was worthy of taking part in September.
"You've got to look at the totality of the season, and we've had an ordinary three weeks, but we can turn that around," he said.
"From a football point of view, we have to get our game back.
"The guys are trying, it's just not working for us.
"In 2011, we were able to get our game back, whereas last year we weren't.
"We are up for the fight."
As he has done since the supplements story erupted in February, Hird again paid tribute to his players for the way they have dealt with a difficult situation.
He also said the club was looking forward to dealing with facts, rather than speculation, if the AFL announced penalties – or lack thereof – this week.
"Our players have been sensational all year," Hird said.
"They keep fronting up, they keep trying.
"It's been the toughest year that any group of footballers could ever imagine, and they've been terrific.
"We've still got 13 wins.
"We're critical of our performance today and the fact we didn't win, but that's not critical of them as people or if you look at the year as a whole."
