Has James Hird ever played better football than he is right at this moment? Probably not, according to former Bomber champion Tim Watson. ""Right now he is a good as he has ever been and I think the fact he has basically been injury free has been the key,"" Watson said today. ""He is the best player I have seen in a long, long time – the best I have ever seen in an Essendon jumper.""

Hird has been simply brilliant in the opening five rounds of season 2004 – best on ground performances against West Coast and Collingwood, solid against Carlton and very good in losing sides against St Kilda and Port Adelaide. He could be sitting on eight Brownlow Medal votes to this stage of the year.

Yesterday at the MCG he started quietly before slipping into overdrive when Collingwood issued a strong challenge to the Bombers midway through the second quarter. He finished the match with 26 possessions, three goals and a third Anzac Day Medal.

Watson said he had seen Hird play better games than he did yesterday against Collingwood but still marvelled at his ability to bob up in areas where his team needed him most. Not only did Hird kick goals, but he gathered numerous possessions deep in defence.

""He has played better games than he did on the weekend but his ability to take over a game and play wherever he is needed is remarkable. He basically becomes troubleshooter,"" Watson said.