Essendon captain James Hird will today have arthroscopic surgery of his right knee. Hird has been troubled by the knee injury for much of the season and today's operation will basically clean-up the tissue around the joint which has been causing the discomfort. Hird carried the knee injury into last weekend's Grand Final and his fitness was further clouded by a minor groin injury. With the players now starting six weeks annual leave, Hird is certain to have fully recovered from the operation in time for the commencement of pre-season training. Other Essendon players may also have to go under the knife.

Essendon football manager said just who those players would be is still to be determined. ""The players will be examined over the next two weeks and a decision made on who needs surgery. We don't think there will be too many others but that will be up to the medical staff,"" Drain said.

Many players actually uderwent surgery during the season - no less than six Essendon players had arthroscopes during the course of the season missing anywhere between six and 10 weeks. Those players were Michael Long, Joe Misiti, Mark Mercuri, Steven Alessio, Chris Heffernan and Justin Blumfield.