James Hird determined to coach Essendon against North Melbourne despite bicycle fall

James Hird has acknowledged his bicycle accident was "pretty scary", as the Essendon coach returned to work with the aim of taking the reins for Friday night's match against North Melbourne.

Hird said he was feeling a lot better on Wednesday morning, less than two days after he was leftseverely concussed following a heavy fall from his bike while riding home from a training session on Monday afternoon.
But despite appearing sound and well, the 42-year-old conceded it had been a fright to wake after hitting his head and knocking himself out in wet conditions.
"Waking up in the middle of Toorak Road is pretty scary," Hird said on Wednesday.
"I do like riding my bike, but it will stay at home for a while."
Hird spent Monday night in hospital under observation before being discharged on Tuesday morning.
"I had a good rest yesterday and I feel a lot better than I did the day before," Hird said.
"I spent a couple of hours here this morning just to sort of make sure everything's okay.
"Doc (Bruce Reid) doesn't want me to spend too long here, and then get home and get ready for the weekend."
Hird said he was feeling confident he would be able to coach the Bombers the Kangaroos at Docklands pending clearance from club doctor Reid.
"Reidy's going to keep me under observation for the next couple of days, but I'm keen to coach," he said.
"I feel good, so I'll just take it a bit quietly and respect concussion like we've been talking about in AFL, and hopefully by tomorrow I feel a lot better."
Hird has endured a difficult three years since the club's 2012 supplements scandal, with a recent five-match losing streak intensifying pressure on his position.
Essendon's spirited drought-breaking win against Melbourne at the MCG on Saturday looked to have improved his outlook until the unfortunate cycling tumble.