FORMER Essendon coach James Hird has been taken to hospital after suffering a major health crisis.

AFL.com.au understands Hird was admitted to Cabrini Malvern Hospital in Melbourne’s south-east, late on Wednesday night.

His condition is currently unknown, but it is believed he was discharged from Cabrini on Thursday afternoon. 

A spokeswoman for Cabrini said she was unable to confirm the report or provide any further comment due to patient confidentiality issues.

An Ambulance Victoria spokesman also refused to comment on whether an ambulance had been called to Hird's Toorak residence on Wednesday night.

Bombers will continue to offer support to Hird

Hird had been out of football since August 2015 when he tearfully resigned as the Bombers' senior coach.

The 43-year-old's tenure was thrown into turmoil associated with the 2012 supplements program and subsequent ASADA investigation, which led to 34 past and present Bombers being banned for the 2016 season.

Hird described the Court of Arbitration for Sport's decision to ban the players as a "miscarriage of justice".

He later apologised to the players and their families for breaking his promise to create a safe environment for Essendon, while claiming his own trust had been broken by others at the club.

Hird was left facing legal bills of almost $700,000 in May when the Victorian Supreme Court dismissed his bid to have Essendon's insurer pay for court action he took to protect his reputation.

Hird was one of Essendon’s most decorated champions. He appeared 253 times for the club, winning two premierships in 1993 and 2000, along with the Brownlow Medal in 1996 which he shared with Michael Voss.