New book reveals Hird and Sheedy’s views on drugs scandal
They are two of Essendon’s favourite sons. Now, in a new book, James Hird and Kevin Sheedy open up about the supplements scandal that rocked the AFL.
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Essendon legends James Hird and Kevin Sheedy have opened up about the supplements scandal that brought their footy club to its knees.
In a book to be released later this month, Bombers champion Hird describes the events that saw him go from AFL coach to mental health patient in the wake of the Essendon 34 being banned for doping.
“There’s a lot of agendas and I’m extremely sorry for what I’ve done,’’ Hird said.
“Like, it’s horrendous what happened.
“I think the whole saga hurt so many people in so many ways.’’
The Brownlow Medallist and dual premiership star said he was shocked the players were suspended for a year by the Court of Arbitration for Sport for being injected with a banned substance.
“I still don’t think they took anything illegal,’’ he said.
Hird was suspended by the AFL and senior assistant Mark Thompson fined in the aftermath of the 2012 scandal that led both former Essendon champions to mental health breakdowns.
Four time Essendon premiership coach Sheedy, in an Icons of Footy book he has penned for release by Affirm Press on October 29, blamed the scandal on shamed sports scientist Stephen Dank.
“Sadly, James got ‘Danked’ when he was caught up in the Essendon supplements scandal,’’ Sheedy said.
“I don’t believe that James Hird would ever do anything illegal, or ask any of his players to do anything illegal, and certainly not something that could cause them any harm.’’
The Herald Sun this week shed new light on the troubled investigation into the scandal, prompting former Bombers captain Jobe Watson to declare: “If it smells, keep digging” on social media.
Sheedy said: “There was never one positive drug test and there is a whole lot about the scandal that doesn’t sit right with me.
“When the full story does come out — and history tells us that it always does, no matter how hard those in power try to cover up — a lot of people will have to change their view about James, Mark Thompson, football manager Danny Corcoran and the players.”
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Hird revealed he had not spoken to Dank since the scandal but said the sports scientist banned from the AFL for life and former high performance manager Dean Robinson “shouldn’t have been employed by our footy club’’.
“If Dean Robinson hadn’t been employed, none of that would have happened,’’ Hird said.
Hird said Essendon supporters had been “damaged greatly’’ by the scandal but the players sidelined fared worse.
“People say it hurt the game, and it did,’’ Hird said.
“But the lives of 34 young men were damaged, they were unfairly targeted,’’