James Hird makes return to AFL club land, joining GWS in a part-time leadership role

It took just one hour of listening to James Hird and then a follow-up pre-Christmas retreat before the Giants realised this could be a perfect partnership. Why they knew he was their man.

James Hird has returned to football in an official capacity for the first time since he resigned as Essendon coach, taking on a part-time role with Greater Western Sydney.

The Essendon champion, who won two premierships and a Brownlow in his playing days, has been appointed by the Giants as a leadership advisor.

The 48-year-old hasn’t coached since he resigned from Essendon after Round 20 of the 2015 season.

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That came after the club’s crippling supplements saga, for which he was banned for a year.

Hird said he was excited about the part-time role with the Giants.

“It’s very much around the leadership group, but then the emerging leaders,” Hird said.

“Probably through sharing my experiences through football and trying to get them to lead and encourage and work hard on those side of things.

“Obviously the talent in this group is immense, finishing in the second week of the finals last year and just trying to get a bit more out of them in that leadership sense both on and off the field.”

James Hird has returned to AFL club land in a leadership role with the Giants. Picture: GWS

Hird has largely been away from the game but did present Dustin Martin with the Norm Smith Medal after Richmond won the 2017 grand final.

Many who know Hird have said that he shouldn’t be lost to the game.

Through Giants tagger Matt de Boer and assistant and good friend Mark McVeigh, Hird addressed GWS players on two occasions last year.

The first was when the Giants were forced to relocate to Melbourne during the season in which Hird delivered a 60-minute session on his wild ride in football.

Hird then spent time with the Giants’ leadership group and emerging leaders at a pre-Christmas retreat on the Central Coast.

Hird, who is also doing a lot of work in the entrepreneurial space, said the character of those at the Giants had impressed him.

“They are a very impressive group both on and off the field … and the quality of the person is probably the most impressive, all high quality, genuine, authentic people and I think that is a great basis to start with,” he said.

“(I) couldn’t be more impressed with the set up they have and the quality of people who are at the club.”

Hird is one of the Bombers’ greatest players, but his coaching career ended in acrimony. Picture: Phil Hillyard

GWS general manager football Jason McCartney told News Corp it was a “great endorsement” for the club that Hird had ended his footy exile with them.

“I suppose the overwhelming experience from the players and staff that had the exposure to James both in Melbourne during the season and the smaller group post season was yeah we want to do something with him,” he said.

“It’s a great opportunity to have someone of his calibre involved in our footy club.

“What James also brings is a very successful business acumen combined with what he has done off-field, it has just lined up beautifully.

“It’s just a great endorsement for the club, pretty much a couple of interactions has seen James want to be more involved with the Giants which I think is great for the footy club.”

Before joining Essendon, Hird grew up in Canberra — where the Giants play some home matches.

Jimmy's time out of footy

August 2015: Hird resigns as coach of Essendon following a tumultous few years post Essendon drug saga
January 2017: Hird is taken to a private hospital following a suspected drug overdose. He was subsequently then taken to a specialist mental health care facility for further treatment and care.
March 2019: Hird says he “will never say never” in regards to a return to coaching.
September 2019: Hird features on an ABC podcast with Santo, Sam and Ed revealing that he is now in the soccer industry. Hird says he has stepped away from the AFL landscape and was now involved in brokering the sale of massive soccer clubs. He says he has also been repping an Aussie boot brand who have signed one of Brazil’s biggest stars.
June 2020: Hird is a part of the AIA Vitality campaign and speaks to former Hawthorn champion Shane Crawford about his mental health struggles. 
October 2020: Essendon great Kevin Sheedy publically states that he would welcome Hird back to the club with open ups should he be appointed to a position. 
April 2021: Hird appears on former North Melbourne and Carlton player Corey McKernan online video series ‘Walk with Me’, discussing his mental health after the Essendon drug saga.
December 2021: Hird takes on guest speaker appearance with the GWS Giants, discussing his footballing journey and learnings.