Despite his team's fast start to the season, Essendon coach James Hird says he was mindful of a stage of the season which may have seen the players waver from plans he implemented when taking on the job for the 2011 season.
""We're very realistic about where we're at and very realistic when we started about the process and how long it's going to take and where we're trying to get to,"" Hird said at Windy Hill on Friday.
""It doesn't happen overnight. We're realistic about it, some people aren't.""
""We were also mindful that there was going to be a point in the year that the players went away or didn't play exactly how we wanted them to play. That's human nature.""
""You get on a roll, things are going well, things get tough, you maybe don't do it as well as you wanted. We were mindful of that,"" Hird said.
Hird said although Essendon's 65-point loss to Hawthorn last week was disappointing, in particular the Hawks' eight-goal second term, he had not been savage on the players in its aftermath.
""It was an honest review,"" he said.
""I wouldn’t say (it was) brutal. I'm not sure brutality with a young group of players is the right way to go, but it was an honest indication of the way we played and where we have to improve.""
Essendon will meet Geelong - who it hasn't beaten since 2005 - without captain Jobe Watson (hamstring), Sam Lonergan (knee), David Myers (hamstring), but Hird said the club did not fear another heavy loss.
""I look forward to a game where our players develop even further. We obviously want to win the game and we think we're a chance to win the game but we want to improve and get better and this is part of the process,"" he said.
""We think it's a very winnable game for us.""
Essendon dropped ruckman Tom Bellchambers and kept faith in out-of-form forward/ruckman Patrick Ryder, but Hird admitted Ryder was fortunate to get a reprieve after poor recent form.
""Paddy's probably lucky to stay in the team but we want to develop him as a player as well and we think that this is the best way to do it,"" Hird said.
""Paddy knows that he's got to improve and he's the first to admit that. If you looked in the rooms after the game (last week against Hawthorn) the most disappointed player was Paddy Ryder.""
""If his training is any indication, then he's in for a big game.""
""We're very realistic about where we're at and very realistic when we started about the process and how long it's going to take and where we're trying to get to,"" Hird said at Windy Hill on Friday.
""It doesn't happen overnight. We're realistic about it, some people aren't.""
""We were also mindful that there was going to be a point in the year that the players went away or didn't play exactly how we wanted them to play. That's human nature.""
""You get on a roll, things are going well, things get tough, you maybe don't do it as well as you wanted. We were mindful of that,"" Hird said.
Hird said although Essendon's 65-point loss to Hawthorn last week was disappointing, in particular the Hawks' eight-goal second term, he had not been savage on the players in its aftermath.
""It was an honest review,"" he said.
""I wouldn’t say (it was) brutal. I'm not sure brutality with a young group of players is the right way to go, but it was an honest indication of the way we played and where we have to improve.""
Essendon will meet Geelong - who it hasn't beaten since 2005 - without captain Jobe Watson (hamstring), Sam Lonergan (knee), David Myers (hamstring), but Hird said the club did not fear another heavy loss.
""I look forward to a game where our players develop even further. We obviously want to win the game and we think we're a chance to win the game but we want to improve and get better and this is part of the process,"" he said.
""We think it's a very winnable game for us.""
Essendon dropped ruckman Tom Bellchambers and kept faith in out-of-form forward/ruckman Patrick Ryder, but Hird admitted Ryder was fortunate to get a reprieve after poor recent form.
""Paddy's probably lucky to stay in the team but we want to develop him as a player as well and we think that this is the best way to do it,"" Hird said.
""Paddy knows that he's got to improve and he's the first to admit that. If you looked in the rooms after the game (last week against Hawthorn) the most disappointed player was Paddy Ryder.""
""If his training is any indication, then he's in for a big game.""
