ESSENDON coach James Hird says it's too early to tell whether his team is a top-four contender despite its impressive 5-1 start to the season.
Speaking after the Bombers' emphatic 67-point win against the Brisbane Lions, Hird noted the Bombers' good start had been aided by playing just two 2011 finalists, Carlton and Collingwood, in the first six rounds.
"I think in the competition it's too hard to know where you are until you've played every team and you're a fair way into the year," Hird said.
"I think that we've probably played more teams that were outside the eight last year (North Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Gold Coast and the Lions) which helps us.
"I think all sides and all coaches are really waiting for the middle of the year at least … to know whereabouts you sit.
"Our goal has been to improve and I think every player on our list is starting to show that improvement."
Hird acknowledged that the Bombers would face a far sterner test against West Coast next round at Etihad Stadium. But although speaking glowingly of the Eagles as one of the competition's best teams, Hird said the Bombers were looking forward to the challenge.
Hird admitted he had been nervous about how Essendon would cope with its 10-day break between its Anzac Day loss to Collingwood and the Lions clash, especially after watching the Magpies' sluggish start to their win over the Western Bulldogs on Friday night.
"We were very pleased with the way we started. We all watched last night with Collingwood and we were a bit anxious that we wouldn't start as well after a bigger break," Hird said.
"But I thought our intensity at the ball, our ability to set up the ground [and] kicking some early goals [was good]."
"I just asked [the players] if they'd watched [the Collingwood-Bulldogs match]. We wanted to get off to a fast start, not a sluggish start because if you can deal with a team early, you deal with a team early, because it's a lot easier to play that way."
Hird acknowledged Ricky Dyson's 25-possession game against the Lions, saying he had almost been delisted at the end of last year. Hird said Dyson had since worked hard on his contested football and had been "exceptional" since the Bombers' round three clash with Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium.
Hird said there were no injury concerns surrounding Leroy Jetta, who came off in the first quarter to have a hamstring worked on by trainers, and Courtenay Dempsey, who was subbed off early in the last quarter.
"You could probably say we're a little bit jumpy at the moment," Hird said of the Bombers' cautious approach to any hint of more soft-tissue injuries.
David Myers and Mark McVeigh would be available for selection against the Eagles, Hird said.
Nick Bowen is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter @AFL_Nick
