First-choice ruckman David Hille starred for Essendon's VFL affiliate side last week, the Bendigo Bombers, and the best and fairest winner will return for the Anzac Day clash, alongside Tom Bellchambers and Patrick Ryder.
Kyle Reimers and Henry Slattery will also come into the senior side, while Michael Hibberd, Andrew Welsh and Alwyn Davey will be emergencies.
Hird said the unconventional plan to play the three ruckmen would not be a one-off.
"We'll see how it goes. It's not something we're necessarily picking for one week; we're picking a structure and type of side that we'll play for more than one week," he said.
"We think the guys can play together for a while, but I think if it starts raining at midnight before Anzac Day and it rains all day, then you wouldn't play three ruckmen."
Hird said Reimers, after an impressive first month in the VFL, had to concentrate on the basics.
Reimers' pace, he added, would be a boost after losing speedy duo Courtenay Dempsey and Jason Winderlich to knee injuries last week.
"(He needs to) just play well, play his role, and try his hardest. He doesn't need to do anything sensational, he just needs to win his fair share of the ball, defend when he needs to defend and set up in the right areas," Hird said.
"We've brought Kyle in, who is more of a running player, and Henry will play more of a defensive role than Courtenay Dempsey did. But we've got plenty of run and speed with (David) Zaharakis, (Leroy) Jetta, (Jake) Melksham, and (Dyson) Heppell, so we don't think we lack for runners."
Hird said the club had learned from its 22-point loss to Collingwood in the NAB Cup Grand Final, but he acknowledged the side would need to be at its best to win on Monday.
"We learned a little bit out of that about Collingwood, but Collingwood's game plan has been in front of everyone for a very long time.
"They've been playing this way for a good couple of years, so we got some positives out of the NAB Cup Grand Final but definitely some things we need to work on.
"If they've got weaknesses it would be great if they could show them to me because they look pretty solid at the moment. They look like they're playing with a lot of confidence, their game is very sound, they use ball well, and it just looks like a very good game plan."
Callum Twomey covers Essendon news for afl.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @Cal_Twomey
