Former Essendon Coach Kevin Sheedy has gone in to bat for the man currently leading the Bombers.

Sheedy said the scrutiny on James Hird is unfair. 

“Every time you pick up a paper it’s just regurgitated,” he said.

“It’s just ridiculous.”

James Hird has coached Essendon for 78 games with a winning record of 51 per cent.

“100 games you might reckon you’re a coach,” Sheedy said.

“It’s a tough game and everybody just forgets it’s a ruthless, tough game.

“He’s in his infancy as a coach.  It’ll make him a better person and it will absolutely make him a better coach.

“It’s probably the toughest apprenticeship I’ve ever seen of any Coach in my 50 years in footy.” 

Sheedy has seen the highs and lows of the game throughout his long service. 

The four-time premiership Coach recounted a clash in 1992 when the Bombers lost by 160 points.

“We got smashed by Hawthorn, the next week we played Melbourne and we won.” 

Sheedy brought in a 19 year old James Hird for just his second AFL game for that victory over Melbourne.

“Out of a negative, which is what happened back in 92’ we get smashed by 26 goals with no WADA or ASADA, and then we find a champion,” Sheedy said. 

The former Coach was in no doubt, the club’s fortunes will turnaround. 

“There will be a lot of positives come out of this I believe, in the end,” Sheedy said.

“They just need games, they’re a very young side – everybody doesn’t realise that.”