James Hird has been blasted by fans after announcing he wants to take over from Brad Scott after his sacking as Essendon coach.
Hird apologised again for his role in the club’s decline after leading the Bombers through the notorious drugs saga, and promised he has learned from the debacle that nearly killed him.
Once news of Scott’s sacking from the AFL club broke on Tuesday morning, speculation immediately started about whether Hird would return.
President Andrew Welsh said he had not contacted Hird, but added no-one had been ruled in or out to be the senior coach next season.
Hird then confirmed on Tuesday night he was keen to coach the Bombers again.
‘The most important thing for me as an Essendon person and what I want to see the football club to do … is for them to go through the most exhaustive process possible for them to find the best person to coach Essendon,’ he told Channel Nine.
James Hird is pictured revealing he wants a second crack at coaching Essendon on Nine’s Footy Classified show on Tuesday night
The Bombers great threw his hat into the ring after Brad Scott (pictured) was sacked as the club’s coach after the team won just one of their last 27 games
Some fed-up Essendon fans blasted Hird and claimed he isn’t fit to lead the club again after his role in the infamous supplements saga (pictured, Bombers players after a loss this month)
‘If the club came to me and said would you be part of that process I would definitely say yes. That is something I would love to be part of, pit my wares against the other coaches and see if I am the best man for the job.
‘If I am the best man for the job, yes I would love to do that job.’
The reaction from fans was swift and damning.
‘He’s not fit to lead. Is he so arrogant that he forgets this is all his fault? He’s a national embarrassment. His name should be shorthand for a blonde, private school boy who never learned the rules apply to him. No, I’ve changed my mind. Do it and get what you deserve,’ one wrote on X.
‘Says the man who led Essendon through the supplements saga. He is part of the reason the club finds itself in the position it is in today,’ another commented.
‘Hell no I’d go for another team if this bloke comes back to coach,’ an Essendon supporter said.
‘Go coach at another club first then. Essendon is not your play thing. You have not bothered to coach anywhere else since being let go over a decade ago. We should NOT go back to the past just for your own redemption,’ a fourth fan wrote.
Other commenters believed Hird’s monologue on Nine’s Footy Classified show amounted to a scripted campaign to get him back into the top job at Windy Hill.
Hird won 41 games, lost 43 and drew one when he coached his beloved Bombers
The 53-year-old became an all-time great as he played 253 games for Essendon from 1992 to 2007, winning two flags and five best and fairest awards
‘Wow, a direct, out of nowhere question that Hirdy had a 4min speech ready for. Amazing!’ one said.
‘Yup job is his – anyone need not apply. They have scripted this to perfection,’ added another.
‘This is hilarious. The deal must have been done when [club president Andrew] Welsh came in last year. No way he goes public like this unless he knows he’s got the gig. They will put on a whole dog and pony show with a ‘coaching search’ when it’s actually a complete boat race. Bombers are too funny,’ a third wrote.
Respected AFL commentator Caroline Wilson claimed the club has told the league’s top brass that the switch to Hird is off the table.
‘My understanding is that someone senior at Essendon, and I don’t know who, or someone very influential, has made it clear to the corridors of power at the AFL that that will not be happening,’ Wilson said on Channel Seven’s The Agenda Setters on Tuesday night.
Hird applied for the head coaching role in 2022, with Kevin Sheedy the one board member to vote for him over Scott.
He said a year ago that he was not interested in coaching again, but made it clear on Tuesday night his passion for the job is back.
Hird’s interest alone will divide Essendon fans, let alone if he returned, given the ongoing trauma from the club’s drugs debacle.
The 1996 Brownlow Medallist, one of the greatest players in Essendon’s history, coached the club from 2011-13.
The AFL banned him for 2014 over his role in the drugs regime. Eventually, 34 players served anti-doping suspensions.
‘I will put my hand up and say I was part of the mistakes that were made at Essendon in 2011 and 2012. They were partly my fault and I put my hand up,’ he said.
‘But a lot of time has gone … I’ve suffered a lot, the football club has suffered a lot and the supporters – mostly – have suffered a lot. And I think it’s time for everyone to kick in and make this club great again.’
Hird returned to coach in 2015, but left before the end of the season. The stress from the saga took a massive toll on his health and Hird was admitted to hospital in early 2017 after an overdose of sleeping pills.
He has been coaching director at VFL team Port Melbourne since last year.
‘The mistake I made and there were a few of them, but the main one was not having enough oversight on a couple of people at our club,’ he said of his first time as Essendon coach.
‘That attention to detail is something I have worked on a lot in my life and that will never happen again.’
He called Essendon one of the ‘key staples’ in his life.
‘Let’s go forward with this club and make it the best club in the AFL again,’ he said.
Hird also congratulated 2000 premiership teammate Dean Solomon, now Essendon’s interim coach for the rest of the season.
