James Hird would love to coach Essendon again, Mark Robinson writes
Essendon are 0-2, face the Demons on Friday and the club, players and coach are under intense scrutiny. Watching on is James Hird. Mark Robinson looks at the likelihood of a Hird return to the Bombers’ top job.
Mark Robinson
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The spectre of James Hird hovers over Essendon.
How real it is yet to be determined.
But it’s there, via circumstance more than mischievous planning.
The conspirators would say how convenient it was to see the former coach in a radio box on what was a day of reckoning for current coach John Worsfold and the playing group.
Both coach and playing group failed again.
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The defeat, coming after the Round 1 debacle, prompted social media discussions and at least one serious media report — on Channel 7 on Saturday night — about a possible return to Essendon for Hird.
Make no mistake, Hird would love to coach Essendon again.
When the Bombers were struggling last year under Worsfold — 2-8 after 10 rounds — Hird was contacted by this newspaper and asked about the ifs, buts and maybes of coaching again.
He didn’t say no.
Nothing eventuated because Worsfold, to his credit, turned it around.
They beat Geelong in Round 9, GWS in Round 10, lost to Richmond in Round 11, and went 8-3 after that.
Suddenly, the Bombers are in a mess again.
They are accused of lacking spirit, unity and connection and if the losses pile up, it’s difficult to imagine this once proud and ruthless football club would deem it acceptable.
There’s no campaign for Hird, but timing is everything, as they say.
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Asked again on Saturday about coaching in the AFL, Hird said: “Never say never.’’
His reasons to coach are many and varied, some selfish, more selfless.
There’s a sense of unfinished business, unquestionably a great affection for the club and the game, and he probably wants to help the players who were directly and indirectly affected by the biggest scandal in the history of the game.
Arguably, what happened to Hird as coach and the self reflection since, would make him a better coach this time round.
“No doubt he would be a better coach,” former player Brendon Goddard told the Don’t Argue Podcast on Monday.
“He was inexperienced … but he was learning on the job.
“He sees the game so well and still does after being out of the game for three years. His footy IQ is really good and his people skills are really good.
“And he’s a great student of the game, so he would have learned through this period … so there is no doubt in my mind, and I always said this from day dot, he had the potential to be a great coach. I never begrudge Hirdy.’’
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The question of forgiveness and acceptance would be an issue, more so with rival fans than Essendon fans, but why should any club be concerned about what rival fans think?
Clearly, some players remain invested in Hird, so much so that Hird said he had spoken to three players in the lead up to the St Kilda clash.
Is that an issue? Would the club or Worsfold care?
Either way, it was a fascinating revelation from Hird.
It would be a ballsy decision, maybe an incredible decision, by Essendon to go back to Hird, if in fact that decision was ever needed to be contemplated.
For it to happen, Worsfold would need to vacate his seat and that’s not happening — at the moment.
It would need Hird to actually announce he wants the job and that’s not happening — at the moment.
It would need the Essendon members to want Hird and, most importantly, the administration and board to do the same.
Interestingly, premiership teammate Sean Wellman is Essendon football director. He and Hird remain close.
Most of all, any future decision would need Hird’s wife, Tania, to give her tick of approval. The drugs saga and battle with the AFL and the mental fallout almost killed her husband and father to her children.
But you get the impression her attitude isn’t quite as feverish as it once was.
Before answering the question on radio, Hird joked: “I hope my wife isn’t listening to this.’’
Originally published as James Hird would love to coach Essendon again, Mark Robinson writes
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