Shameful hounding of James Hird has taken a terrible toll, says Graham Cornes

THOSE who so disgracefully vilified and hounded James Hird and drove him to what could have been his last act must face the consequences of their words and actions, writes Graham Cornes.

ARE you satisfied now?

Those of you who have vilified James Hird — the media, particularly the Fairfax Press, who hounded and ridiculed him; the keyboard cowards who act from their cover of anonymity and lack of any moral filter.

The opposition fans whose prejudice and hysteria blinded them to the facts; the AFL which lost control of what should have been an internal matter; the football world in general which has ostracised him; and indeed those from within the Essendon Football Club who were desperate for a scapegoat — must all face the consequences of their comments and their actions.

For it is you who have driven James Hird to what could have been his last, desperate act.

It is true that professional football both gives and then takes away.

GRANT THOMAS: AFL SLAMMED FOR SILENCE ON HIRD

DARKEST HOUR: HIRD BULLIED, VERBALLY ASSAULTED

FALLEN HERO: HOW IT ALL WENT WRONG FOR HIRD

FRIENDS’ CONCERN: JAMES’ HEALTH IS OUR PRIMARY CONCERN

In James Hird’s case it had given him everything.

He was a champion player — a golden child who did magical deeds on the football field and was a fine citizen, husband and father away from it.

James Hird has suffered enough and should be left alone, says Graham Cornes. Picture: Getty Images

His football career was not gifted to him, despite his family’s significant history with the Bombers. After all he was not taken until pick 79 in the 1990 draft.

Yet he became one of the greatest and, naturally in the football-obsessed city of Melbourne, every opportunity followed.

When other greats before him sought their coaching opportunities at other clubs, he remained a true Bomber. Ironically, it was the club he so loved that destroyed him.

In the millions of words that have been written about the Essendon supplements saga, which devastated the club and impacted on so many, there is still no definitive culprit.

Sure there have been many accusations.

Stephen Dank, the sports scientist who designed the program has been black-listed.

Dean Robinson, the high performance manager who implemented it, has been banished.

The club’s president, chief executive and football manager all fell on their swords.

Only the club doctor and several support staff who have been blindly loyal to Essendon have survived.

James Hird fought ASADA and WADA all the way. Picture: Mark Stewart

Yes, the club doctor, a fine, loyal servant of the club, who James Hird insisted must approve any supplements program, has survived the post-supplements purge.

This whole sorry saga should have ended when the AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal cleared the club, Hird and the players of any violation of the WADA code.

The AFL would have been happy with that. The point had been made: the club and key members of the club had been sanctioned.

But the AFL lost control of the investigation when ASADA and WADA developed a case that allowed the Court of Arbitration for Sport to weave questionable “strands of evidence” into a “cable of truth” which produced its finding to suspend the players.

However, James Hird fought them the whole way. His sense of rectitude had been violated and while he felt responsible for the players’ predicament, he maintained that the club had never breached the WADA code.

When he fought the propriety of the ASADA investigation in the Federal Court, he was ridiculed.

When he challenged that court’s verdict, which is the right of any Australian citizen, he was further ridiculed.

He served his 12 month ban, trying desperately to avoid the constant media maelstrom, then returned to coach his beloved team.

But deep down, he knew the club could never be completely free of the saga while he was coach, so he did the honourable thing and resigned.

James Hird fell on his sword. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

He has suffered in silence since then, the injustice of the CAS findings and the consequences for his players further suffocating him.

As senior coach he approved Essendon’s ill-fated supplements program — with two provisos.

One, it had to be WADA compliant and two, it had to be approved by the club doctor. Why then have he and his 34 players had to endure such scandal?

No one can know how James Hird has suffered as this saga has played out and reached its climax.

What happens when the door of the family home is closed to the world and the injustice of it all continues to foment? What toll is enacted on family and personal relationships?

It may be that when he seemed invincible, he was vulnerable. When he seemed strong he was fragile.

It’s possible a handful of tablets seemed to offer him a respite from it all but he still has much to offer as a husband, father, community and football leader. If only he could see through the haters and understand that he is still much-loved and respected.

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Originally published as Shameful hounding of James Hird has taken a terrible toll, says Graham Cornes