Mark Thompson hopes James Hird becomes a senior coach again and reveals why Bombers are battling

Mark Thompson says the club was always going to be in for a torrid time this season following last year’s success. The Essendon great explains why they are struggling.

James Hird and Mark Thompson at Essendon’s Tullamarine base.

Mark Thompson says Ben Rutten needs the chance to grow the team as Essendon’s senior coach, but at the same time, he could see James Hird returning to lead his old side.

The embattled Bombers are 2-8 under Rutten this season amid fierce backlash towards the club from disgruntled fans.

Hird, who last coached the Bombers in 2015, is currently a part-time assistant coach at the Giants underneath his former teammate Mark McVeigh.

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Dyson Heppell and his teammates are sitting in third last place at 2-8 on the AFL ladder.

As first revealed by the Herald Sun, Hird wants to be a senior AFL coach again.

“I hope Hirdy gets a senior job,” Thompson said.

“He got cut out of the game pretty quickly, too early, and he never cut his teeth into coaching.

“He coached for two years, and then the pressure came. And it’s pretty hard to live under pressure.

“He could coach Essendon again if it came up, but you can’t say Ben Rutten’s not going to be there for another 10 years.

“If it did come up, Hirdy would have to be the best man for it, you wouldn’t just give it to him because he’s James Hird.

Bomber Thompson says living up to expectations was always going to be difficult for Essendon this season.

“But obviously he’s had some experience now, he’s learnt a mountain of lessons, he’ll never put the club in that position again because it’s not healthy for any part of the club, and I think he probably learnt enough about coaching to be able to do it again.

“He learnt a lot about life.

“I don’t know how many times in life he was put under pressure from the football media, but boy he got it good didn’t he?

“Look, everybody makes mistakes and you don’t hang people for making those sorts of mistakes. You try to give them another chance. You help them.’’

James Hird and Mark Thompson worked together while Hird was Essendon coach.

James Hird and Mark Thompson at Essendon’s Tullamarine base.

Thompson, who was Hird’s assistant coach at Essendon, says wins were always going to be tough to stack up in 2022.

“It’s pretty much what was always going to happen,’’ Thompson said.

“They had a reasonable year last season, but they’re still very young.

“Until you start playing two or three years together, you’re always going to lose games. They’re young.

“And I don’t know if it’s the Essendon media, or the Essendon club itself or the Essendon players, but they put too much pressure on themselves.

“It’s hard to live under pressure. It’s hard to live up to expectations when you’re probably not capable.’’

Thompson conceded he sort of knew Hird and another Bomber, Dean Solomon, were at the Giants.

“Someone told me Hirdy and Solomon are assistant coaches. Assistant coaches?” he said.

Originally published as Mark Thompson hopes James Hird becomes a senior coach again and reveals why Bombers are battling