AFL TV Wrap: James Hird shoots Bombers rumour, Mitch Duncan prepares for Bailey’s boxing bout

Eddie McGuire has compared Caroline Wilson to an Olympic legend after her “backflip” on a story Brad Scott labelled “an opinion piece”. The full Tuesday Footy TV wrap here.

“I don’t want to coach Essendon”.

Essendon great James Hird has shot down rumours he is planning a coaching coup with former chairman Paul Little, saying he does not want to coach at the AFL level again.

And the current Bombers coach Brad Scott labelled the story as “an opinion piece” by Caroline Wilson, who first made the story public on Agenda Setters.

Wilson said on Monday’s program on Channel 7 the ex-coach and former president were working together behind the scenes, planning a move that would result in Scott’s sacking and the reappointment of Hird as the senior coach.

But Hird said he had no interest in the job, while panel member Tom Morris said Little “had no appetite” to take over the current president David Barham.

“I haven’t got ambitions (to coach), I’m loving what I’m doing with my son down at Port Melbourne, and that’s the extent of it,” he said.

“I don’t want to coach Essendon.

“It’ll blow over, Brad Scott is the best man for the job at the Essendon Football Club, and I for one support him.”

James Hird has ruled out a return to Essendon. Picture: Michael Klein

While Wilson broke the initial report on Monday’s Agenda Setters, she clarified on Tuesday that she “did not say that James Hird and Paul Little are planning together a comeback to Essendon.”

Footy Classified’s Eddie McGuire then compared Wilson to Olympic legend Simone Biles.

“I don’t think Simone Biles could do a backflip like that one”.

AFL 360

Thursday night may be the celebration of Mitch Duncan, but outside of the words on the banner it will be fully focused on one man.

Bailey Smith, and his first match against his old side.

But the milestone man says he’s fine to be a footnote in history for the inaugural ‘Bailey vs the Dogs’ classic, and is readying himself to get involved in the action early.

“I think you have to be (ready to fly the flag), it’s not really my strong suit either to be honest,” he said on AFL 360.

“But I’m sure we’ll look after him.

“I don’t know what the falling out was like, or how it finished, but I dare say there will be a few players who still really enjoy him as well.

Bailey Smith will face his old side this week. Picture: Sarah Reed

“I’m sure Baz and the Dogs will have a bit of a say, but I love the way he’s come in.

And as Duncan enters his 300th game, he sees a lot of Smith in himself.

“I just love how he covers the ground and links the ball from half back to the forward line,” he said.

“Not pumping up my own tyres, but he kind of reminds me of a young self, being able to connect between lines.

“He’s obviously got a bit more pace than I do, and is probably more of a contested player than I am, but just the ability to break lines and distribute the footy.”

Agenda Setters

Wayne Carey is set to return to North Melbourne to celebrate the club’s 100 years in football.

And he’ll be there alongside premiership teammate Anthony Stevens.

AFL great Wayne Carey is set to return to the Bulldogs’ fold. Picture: Getty Images

The club is celebrating the milestone in round 17 against the Western Bulldogs at the MCG, and going off previous clubs’ 100th-year celebrations, they tend to be huge events.

So getting one of the all-time greats back into the fold was important, even if Carey’s last run-in with Stevens came at the 25-year reunion of the 1996 premiership and it ended in a verbal altercation.

North Melbourne will celebrate its 10 premierships across its 100 years, including 2024’s AFLW flag and the five VFA premierships.

Originally published as AFL TV Wrap: James Hird shoots Bombers rumour, Mitch Duncan prepares for Bailey’s boxing bout