BRENDON Goddard says he has never doubted James Hird was a good coach but concedes the Essendon players will now get the "clean air" they so badly need with his departure from the club.
Goddard, who moved to the Bombers at the end of 2012, also said he had "no regrets" about his decision to leave St Kilda even though the move "hadn't turned out the way I envisaged".
The former Saint said there was an element of guilt within the playing ranks, with Hird "loved, respected and admired" by the club that agreed to his resignation on Tuesday.
"I believe he's a good coach. I've never doubted him … I didn't know him too well, I'd met him a few times and played on him as a player," Goddard told Fox Footy on Tuesday night.
"But from the first day we had discussions of moving to Essendon I believed he was a good coach and still believe he's a good - with the potential to be a great - coach.
"He's very personable with the players and that was kind of taken away from him a little bit, considering the circumstances of the last three years.
"He was freshly out of the game, understands the game, sees the game really well.
"He can communicate on all levels to all players, and tactically he's got a great understanding of the game but I think most of the challenges with coaching are dealt with managing the 45 guys on the list and he had a great ability to do that and communicate with everyone."
ANALYSIS: Hird's dreams of glory turned to darkness
Goddard echoed the thoughts of Essendon captain Jobe Watson, who told Channel Nine on Tuesday night he believed the circumstances of the ongoing anti-doping saga hindered Hird's ability to coach properly.
"It's disappointing from our point of view as players we couldn't perform for James the way we wanted to but it is my belief he is a good coach," Goddard said.
"There were things restricting us and him coaching and winning, but I always felt and believed he was a great coach and we didn't help the cause.
"We were unable to perform for him when he [did] everything in his power to help us perform and get the best out of ourselves."
As the players gathered on Tuesday night to support each other after the day's events, Goddard and Watson fronted the media to talk about how they felt with Hird finally gone from the helm.
Watson said he felt he hadn't skippered the club as well as he could have throughout the tumultuous two-and-a-half seasons since the story broke in February 2013.
But he said he was motivated to play on in 2016, and would retain the role if the club wanted him to.
Watson didn't ask Hird to reconsider resignation
"If I think I am the best person for [captaincy], I will," Watson said.
"During this period of time I haven't been a good captain … I haven't been able, from a mental side of it.
"I haven't been able to do the job that I know I should do and that the job requires.
"That is something that if I can, if I feel like I can, if I am in the mind frame to do so, then I feel like I should be the captain."
Where to now for Bombers, Hird?
Goddard urged his teammates to find purpose to perform against Gold Coast this Saturday at Metricon Stadium, in what will be Matthew Egan's first game as interim coach.
Meanwhile, Essendon great and part-time forwards coach Matthew Lloyd told Channel Nine he believed Hird's departure was the right decision, "not only for Essendon but for James and his family as well".
Brendon Goddard, Jobe Watson and James Hird before the 2015 Anzac Day clash. Picture: AFL Media
