Essendon captain James Hird will be available for Essendon's round one clash against Geelong after receiving a one-match suspension at the AFL tribunal this evening. Hird will miss this weekend's round three match of the Wizard Cup against Fremantle at Subiaco. Hird was fronting the tribunal for the first time in his career. He was suspended after pleading guilty of striking Brad Johnson of the Western Bulldogs in the second quarter of the round two Wizard Cup match last Saturday.

Tribunal chairman Brian Collis described Hird's actions as reckless when handing down the decision and reiterated the tough stance the tribunal will be taking on head-high contact this season. Essendon will also be without ruckman David Hille after he was suspended for one week for making contact with an umpire. Hille also pleaded guilty.