Essendon's WADA woes were put in sharp perspective earlier this week when Jake Carlisle was felled at training.
A day after the World Anti-Doping Agency confirmed it would be appealing the not-guilty verdicts reached by the AFL's anti-doping tribunal, Carlisle endured a frightful accident.
The swingman pinched a nerve in his neck, having copped a knock to the head in a marking contest.
Carlisle was considered a small chance of facing North Melbourne last Friday night and is expected to return against Brisbane next Sunday.
However the initial outlook wasn't anywhere near as positive.
"He was on the ground for probably half an hour, not moving," Hird revealed after his side's 11-point loss to the Kangaroos.
"He had no feeling in his arm.
"The doctors were very cautious. Put the neck brace on, brought the stretcher out.
"Went to hospital in an ambulance ... but the MRI scan came back to say there was no damage to his spine.
"The players were a bit shocked by that, but luckily he's OK."
The Bombers showed plenty of pluck in their loss to North, but WADA's appeal remained a major talking point after the match.
"I don't think it had an effect tonight," Hird said.
The date of the Court of Arbitration for Sport case is up in the air, but Hird insisted the players weren't worried.
"We don't even know when this thing is going to start, it might not even start until the end of the year," he said.
"We've got to make the most of our careers.
"I do feel like our players have really been able to focus on football.
"Our boys are very confident with what's going to happen off the field because they know the facts."
Share
