Jake Melksham, a former Essendon player and current Melbourne Demon, has publicly endorsed James Hird's bid to return as coach of the Bombers.Melksham, who played alongside Hird during his time at Essendon, met with Hird for the first time in over a decade after Hird's recent role at Port Melbourne.

Despite Hird's past suspension for his involvement in the 2012 supplements program, Melksham believes Hird is in a positive space and should be considered for the role.Essendon, currently struggling with poor form, faces its first wooden spoon since 2016, having lost 29 of its past 30 games.Meanwhile, Hawthorn star Will Day has suffered another injury setback, ruling him out for their clash against Richmond.Collingwood has also ruled out Jeremy Howe for the week due to hip and groin issues.The article highlights the challenges facing both teams as they navigate player injuries and coaching decisions.