Essendon assistant coach Mark Thompson has praised the strength of coach James Hird in coping with recent pressure he has faced.

Thompson said there was little doubt about Hird’s ability to coach the side during the ongoing ASADA investigation.

"He needs support and care and he goes up and down, but he's still coaching well and he's strong,” Thompson said.

"He's a strong man and he's very, very determined.

"He's doing his job - he's doing what he has to do - and he'd be a pretty busy guy, I'd reckon."

Thompson compared the pressure Hird was under to 2006, when he nearly lost his job as Geelong senior coach.

"I went through a similar thing in 2006 and luckily I got a reprieve - someone forgave me for making a few errors," he said.

"He has been coaching well and it's important he's coaching well.

"If we keep coaching well and the team keeps playing well and we find a way to get through what we're getting through and we're still able to do our job well, then that says a lot for our footy club."

"He just needs help, he needs support."