Updated ,first published
Essendon James Hird has announced his strong desire to return as head coach at Tullamarine, saying he wants the Bombers to be “the best club in the AFL again”.
In a tense day set by the firing of Brad Scott in his fourth year in office, Hird said Tuesday night he was ready to “put my stuff out there” against the best candidates in a “full process” to find Scott’s successor.
“The most important thing for me as an Essendon person, and what I want to see the football club do … is they go through the most thorough process possible to find the best person to coach the Essendon Football Club,” Hird said. Footy Classifiedwhere he is a regular panelist.
“If a club came to me (and said), ‘Would you be part of that process?’, I’d definitely say yes. That’s something I’d like to be a part of – pitting my products against other coaches (to find) the best person for the job.
“If I’m the best person for the job, yes I’d like to do the job, but if not, pick the best person and let’s move this club forward and make it the best club in the AFL again.”
If the Bombers turn to Hird, a scoundrel, his selection would send some fans dancing in the streets. But others would be raising their eyebrows.
The big question remains: can Essendon’s favorite child coach the Raiders again?
It’s been a decade since the season when the Bombers turned to top players to consolidate the team as a team punishments resulting from the drug scandal at the club took full effect, the club can go full circle on Hird.
After Scott’s dismissal became publicHird’s concept immediately went into overdrive. Former Hawk Jordan Lewis, who was on the sub-committee to select the Essendon coach in 2022, spoke to him.
Lewis said he could consider Hird returning to the head coaching ranks. “If I’m honest, I was impressed by him. I really was,” Lewis told SEN of Hird’s presentation in 2022.
“For me, what I saw and experienced – I still think he understands the game. He presented it very well.
“He has lost the game without being in (a) top position.”
A club legend and then a board member Kevin Sheedy pushed hard for Hird over Scott four years ago. On Tuesday he told them Herald Sun he hoped Hird would coach again in the AFL.
“I hope James Hird gets his chance and I know it depends on who is interviewing, but he would do a great job,” Sheedy said.
“He’s wasted. He should be coaching in the AFL now.
“I hope he doesn’t stay as coach at Carlton … we’re going to lose a lot of fans, and we’re trying to get them back.
“If he’s not going to ask, so be it, and at least our fans would know he doesn’t want to do it.”
While John Worsfold steadied Essendon’s coaching ship after the doping scandal, the red-and-black faithful have seen a succession of coaches in the chair since Sheedy left Essendon in 2007 after an astonishing 27 seasons.
Coaching at Essendon was not a secure job.
Matthew Knights was a controversial selection as Sheedy’s replacement from 2008, but it was the combination of Hird and (assistant general) Mark Thompson in 2011 that created a sensation among Essendon fans.
History shows it did not go well. In early 2013 the saga of supplements came to light. Hird was suspended in 2014, and at the end of the following season he opted to leave Essendon as the drug scandal and poor results on the field worsened.
“It was the board’s view that the football club would never be free from the ASADA scandals when Paul (then chairman Paul Little) and I were here,” Hird said in 2015.
“I’ve always cared a lot about the players. I’m very grateful to them with all my heart.”
Over 10 years, Hird has spent time as an assistant coach at GWS in 2022, holds the position of director of coaching at VFL club Port Melbourne, and appears regularly on Channel Nine.
Just as news of Scott’s sacking was breaking on Tuesday morning, club legend Tim Watson discussed Hird on SEN.
On his radio breakfast show, Watson confirmed there was “a very strong push from a lot of people out there to bring James Hird back to Essendon, to coach”.
“Essendon people want success, they want the right guy. Right now, a lot of people think that could be James Hird.”
Watson, however, also said the Bombers needed to do “the right coaching search”.
Recently, he said coaching was his clear choice of all the jobs he has had in his life.
“If you were an AFL head coach, you would be,” Hird told 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 Welsh president did not shed any light on Essendon’s interest in Hird.
“We’re not going to rule anybody in or anybody out. I’m sure there will be a lot of people interested in this role,” Welsh said.
Sheedy chose not to comment when contacted by the masthead.
