Essendon coach James Hird has slammed West Coast fans who mercilessly booed Brownlow medallist Jobe Watson throughout Thursday night's game.

While West Coast coach John Worsfold said he didn't hear the booing, Hird certainly did – and he was not happy.

"I did not like that at all," Hird said.

"It wasn't necessary …  I just don't think it was called for."

The Bombers captain should get another three Brownlow votes for his 29-possession, two goal, effort which carried his team to an emotional seven-point victory.

"Jobe tonight, to play the way he did under the pressure he was under was just outstanding," HIrd said.

"I've been talking about him for three days about his outstanding character, and people can talk about him as a character and talk about him as a person but you have got to put that into action.

"Tonight he put it into action and he'll continue to put it into action because of the type of person he is. He'll keep doing it all year so it's great.

"Jobe, he is incredible.

"It was going to go either of two ways – he was either not going to get a kick or he'd play well.

"There was a fair chance it was going to go that way because of the type of person he is. And he proved he's a champion."

After the first game of round 14, Essendon are second on the ladder, with only Heath Hocking unavailable through injury.

Not a bad effort given their tumultuous season off the field.

It provides real hope the Bombers can finish much stronger than last season, when they fell in an almighty hole after a fine start.

"Our injuries are nowhere near (last year)," Hird said.

"We have had almost everyone on the track every week, 41 players playing each week, so you'd have to think that our run into the second half of the year is going to be better than last year.

"We know we've got some games over the next nine weeks against some really quality teams.

"So we are really looking for consistency across our performances … hopefully that will lead to where we are on the ladder."

Hird was clearly elated after beating the Eagles at Patersons Stadium.

"We hadn't beaten West Coast over here since 2001 I think, so it has been a long time," he said.

He said Stewart Crameri, who hobbled off the field with lateral ligament damage in his right ankle, was a chance to play their next game against Port Adelaide.

Hird said doctors were hopeful given there would be 10 days between games, with the Power clash on Sunday, July 7.