New Essendon coach James Hird has wasted no time in enforcing his authority, delisting forward Jay Neagle and defender Jarrod Atkinson for failing to meet strict training requirements.

At his first media conference as coach on Monday, Hird spoke of his desire to improve the players' fitness over pre-season. Today, he showed how serious he was in enforcing that goal by axing Neagle and Atkinson, two young, and occasionally wayward, players.

Essendon's general manager of football operations Paul Hamilton said Hird was vigilant on forcing strict fitness levels.

"We've come back to training, and it's been very clear from James (Hird) that we have to reach certain standards," Hamilton said on SEN radio.

"The players need to be at certain physical standards. That's what it's been all about, making sure that as a group we improve our mental hardness and the way we go about our tasks. In regards to these two players, they just haven't been able to meet these standards."

The 22-year-old Neagle, who was seen as a possible replacement for Matthew Lloyd, was sacked for returning to training unfit and recording a high skin-fold reading.

"In Jay's case, he's come back and certainly his testing results were well below what the required standards are," Hamilton said.

"These final decisions were made following the club's first ten days of training and are a reflection of the standards that the coaching panel wish to see the group adhere to."

Hird yesterday spoke to the media for the first time since being appointed senior coach, and expressed the need for a strong pre-season.

"I'm very happy with their fitness levels, but every team can get fitter. We have a young group that's in a development mode in terms of their fitness and they will get better before we start round one," Hird said.

"At this point in the year it's all about hard work and really making sure that everything you do will hold you in good stead from March through to September."

Atkinson, 25, was axed for failing to show enthusiasm and dedication on the training track and was previously warned by Hird to improve his attitude.

"He (Atkinson) was called into the office on Friday by James and myself and a clear message was delivered that he had two weeks to lift his training standards to get up to scratch,'' Hamilton said. ''And if he did that, he'd be given another contract. Unfortunately, he didn't turn up to training yesterday, and consequently called us and said that he didn't have any desire to continue.''

Atkinson played only 17 games and his poor training attitude was seen as the reason for his omission from the senior team in 2010 despite solid VFL form. Neagle played 28 games in five seasons and was continually criticised by the media for being overweight. But it was left to new coach Hird to make the tough decision, which will likely end their playing careers.

Essendon did not delay the finality of the delistings, as within hours of the decision being made public, their player profiles and records had been sponged from the Bombers' website.

Neagle, the son of the Bombers' 1984 premiership wingman Merve Neagle, has been offered a possible second-chance as mature-aged rookie, should he dramatically improve his fitness levels.

"In his case he's been given a lifeline in that there is a rookie spot available for him if he's able to demonstrate over the next four weeks that he's up to the training standards. To his credit, he was here at 7am, and out training with the guys," Hamilton said.

A third Bomber, Bachar Houli, has also officially been delisted today, although the 21-year-old midfielder had previously told the club he was walking out frustrated by a lack of opportunities and would be taking up an offer to join Richmond.