James Hird is a polarising figure who, if appointed as Essendon’s next senior coach, would have some fans dancing in the streets. But others would be raising their eyebrows.
Could Essendon’s favourite son really coach the Bombers again?
A decade on from the season when the Bombers turned to top-up players to field a team as the punishments stemming from the club’s drugs saga took full effect, the club might go full circle on Hird.
On Tuesday – after Brad Scott’s sacking became public – the Hird conjecture went into overdrive. Former Hawk Jordan Lewis, who was on the subcommittee to select Essendon’s coach in 2022, talked him up.
Lewis said he could envisage Hird making a return to the senior coaching ranks. “If I’m honest, I was impressed by him. I really was,” Lewis told SEN about Hird’s presentation in 2022.
“For me, what I saw and experienced – I still think he understands the game. He presented really well.
“He’s lost to the game not being in [a] senior position.”
Club legend and then board member Kevin Sheedy strongly pushed for Hird over Scott four years ago. On Tuesday he told the Herald Sun he hoped Hird would coach in the AFL again.
“I hope James Hird gets his chance and I know it depends on who does the interview, but he would do a great job,” Sheedy said.
“He’s been wasted. He should be coaching in the AFL now.
“I hope he doesn’t go on to coach Carlton … we’ll lose too many fans, and we’re trying to get them back.
“If he doesn’t apply for it, so be it, and at least our fans would know that he doesn’t want to do it.”
While John Worsfold steadied Essendon’s coaching ship after the tumult of the drugs saga, the red–and-black faithful have witnessed a steady stream of coaches in the chair since Sheedy finally parted ways with Essendon in 2007 after an astonishing 27 seasons.
Coaching Essendon has not been secure employment.
Matthew Knights was a controversial appointment as Sheedy’s replacement from 2008, but it was the Hird and (senior assistant) Mark Thompson coaching combination for 2011 that sent spirits soaring among Essendon fans.
History shows it did not go well. In early 2013 the supplements saga came to light. Hird was suspended for 2014, and by late in the next season he chose to leave Essendon as the toll of the drugs saga and poor on-field results hit hard.
“It was the board’s opinion that the football club would never be free of the ASADA scandals while Paul [then chairman Paul Little] and I were here,” Hird said in 2015.
“I’ve always cared deeply about the players. I truly thank you with all my heart.”
More than 10 years on, Hird has spent time as an assistant coach at GWS in 2022, holds a director of coaching role at VFL club Port Melbourne, and appears regularly on Channel Nine.
Just as news of Scott’s sacking was emerging on Tuesday morning, club great Tim Watson discussed Hird on SEN.
In his breakfast radio show, Watson confirmed there was “a very, very strong push from a lot of people out there to get James Hird back at Essendon, coaching”.
“Essendon people want success, they want the right person. Right now, a lot of people think that might be James Hird.”
Watson, however, also said the Bombers needed to conduct a “proper coach search”.
This masthead contacted Hird for comment. Recently, he said coaching was his clear choice of all the jobs he has had through his life.
“You’d absolutely be a senior AFL coach, you would,” Hird told Nine’s Footy Classified.
“If you love coaching, the passion for coaching and putting a team together is the highest thrill you can get outside of playing.”
On Tuesday, Essendon president Welsh didn’t shed any light on Essendon’s interest in Hird.
“We are not ruling anyone in or anyone out. I am sure there will be a lot of people interested in this role,” Welsh said.
Sheedy chose not to comment when contacted by this masthead.
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