James Hird’s bid to sue Essendon’s insurer has returned to a Melbourne court, but the former coach did not appear.

Hird is suing Chubb Insurance for not covering $642,000 in legal bills he incurred during his former AFL club’s ongoing doping saga.

His lawyer told the Supreme Court of Victoria the case would likely require a two-day trial and Justice James Judd set a further directions hearing date of October 16.

Hird and Essendon parted company on Tuesday, ending his drama-filled tenure at the crisis club.

– More to come