Essendon coach James Hird cuts interview off when questioned about his club's drug investigation Bombers coach James Hird with club doctor Bruce Reid last night. THE pressure on James Hird was plain to see last night as the besieged Essendon coach abruptly cut short a television interview when gently questioned about the drug investigation enveloping the club. In a bizarre backdrop to the Bombers' opening NAB Cup games against Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs, Hird told Fox Footy's AFL 360 he only wanted to talk about the game. "We are very excited about playing a game of football," he said. When asked what toll the investigation had taken on him, Hird replied: "Lets talk about that later. We will talk about the game and where we are going with the game with the Bulldogs and Collingwood tonight. The Herald Sun's Mark Robinson, who co-hosts the program with Gerard Whateley, then said: "Can I ask you one question and one question only - I think a lot of Essendon fans out there want to know, a lot of senior media people have discussed your future, a lot of Essendon fans have been sitting around dinner tables thinking, `what is James Hird going to do?' Do you think you are the right person to be coaching this Football club? "If I didn't, Mark, I wouldn't be standing here right now," Hird replied. We have a game to play and we will move on with that. Robinson: "Have you been annoyed by this talk?" Hird: "We have got a game to play. It's not pleasant, we don't want to be here, but we are and we will move on with the game. And with that he walked off camera. Hird's spirits would have lifted soon after, however, as Essendon defeated the Western Bulldogs by 26 points in the first game 1.5.6 (45) to the Bulldogs' 1.1.4 (19). Brendon Goddard had plenty of the ball in his first game in red and black; Kyle Hardingham and Shaun Higgins kicked the only two super goals and a host of young players put their hand up for senior selection for both sides.