JAMES Hird has defended his decision to take an overseas break during Essendon's bye round last week, saying he's "not sure what the big deal is".

The Bombers coach flew to Europe on approved leave following his side's round-11 loss to West Coast and spent the week abroad to finish his business administration course at the world-renowned INSEAD business school.

The 42-year-old returned to the club's Tullamarine headquarters on Monday, just a day after returning from his trip.

Hird said his assistant coaches had more than adequately taken care of the Bombers' two sessions in his absence – last Friday and a skills session the following day.

"It was all approved leave, just some personal development overseas," Hird told Channel Seven on Monday night.

"(I missed) one training session on Saturday, I'm not sure what the big deal is.

"It happens all the time and our assistant coaches took the session, so (it was a) good session."

Essendon sits with a 4-7 win-loss record at the midway point of the season and faces reigning premier Hawthorn this Saturday.

Hird's mid-year trip raised eyebrows given the growing pressure around the Bombers after their lacklustre performances this season. 

Midfielder Brendon Goddard said the playing group had "no issue" with Hird's trip abroad, but acknowledged some players were only made aware of his absence upon their return from the break.

"The players were fine, a lot of us knew where he was and what he was doing," Goddard told Channel Nine on Monday night.

"I knew that he wasn't coming back, and then for the rest of the guys, (they'd) filled us in on the Friday morning.

"On the Friday morning, the boys found out. (The) first meeting of the day, we got informed that 'Hirdy' would be back on Sunday."

Essendon club great Tim Watson defended Hird's no-show from the club last week.

"What is wrong with somebody having a break mid-season?" Watson told Channel Seven.

"It's a long season, it's a scheduled break and you know that you're going to get a period of time where you can actually just put tools down for a little while and clear your head.

"What is wrong with that?"

Hird began studying the business course last season during his 12-month AFL suspension.