The Essendon coach has maintained all year the Bombers' progress can be seen by consistency in effort on the track, which has been applied on game-day in the club's six-game winning streak to start the year.
But having dropped their first game of the year last week league-leaders to Geelong, the Bombers were poor against the rank-outsider Lions, who won by 10 points at Etihad Stadium.
"This group has done so well to train and work hard through the pre-season so far, and today wasn't a great day. We own that it wasn't a great day and we'll move on with next week," Hird said post-game.
Captain Jobe Watson supported Hird's view the lackluster training effort set the tone for the defeat, and said the team wasn't feeling the effects of the spotlight from the on-going AFL-ASADA investigation.
"I don't think so. It has been a challenge for us at different periods, but I think it was more specifically training Thursday's training session," Watson said.
"But I thought the group a week ago was in good spirits going into the Geelong game and hopefully last week's [training] was just a one-off and we don't prepare the same way.
"I think our preparation this week translated into the way we played.
"But for the past seven or eight weeks I don't think the investigation and the side things have had an overly detrimental impact on the playing group."
Star forward Michael Hurley was subbed out of the contest early in the first term after Daniel Merrett slung him to the ground in a tackle.
Hurley hit his head on the turf, left the field and didn't return.
Hird said he hasn't spent a lot of time watching the incident, "but I'm sure someone will during the week."
"It was disappointing to have him out most of the game and having to sub early," Hird said.
"I thought our structure up forward didn't work as well without Michael there and it allowed them to be a little less accountable.
"He's fine now. Obviously everyone's very cautious with concussion."
Hird reserved judgment on the controversial video review system, which saw a Jonathan Brown mark cleared in the last quarter which looked to be marked over the goal-line.
Brown converted the mark into a goal at an important stage.
"A lot of the times it is inconclusive," Hird said.
"If they want to keep [the system] going they'll keep it going. I'm not sure [whether] the stats say it's working or not."
Follow AFL website reporter Callum Twomey on Twitter at @AFL_CalTwomey.
