James Hird gone as Essendon coach, 925 days after doping scandal broke
JAMES Hird has walked away from football forever with a $1 million payout and the hope that Essendon players will now be free of the AFL’s greatest crisis.
Essendon
Don't miss out on the headlines from Essendon. Followed categories will be added to My News.
JAMES Hird has walked away from football forever with a $1 million payout and the hope that Essendon players will now be free of the AFL’s greatest crisis.
Bombers chairman Paul Little insisted on Tuesday that Hird had tendered his resignation — but, effectively, the coach was sacked.
“On Friday afternoon, at Paul Little’s office, Paul said it was the board’s opinion that the football club would never be truly free of the ASADA issue while I was the coach and he was the chairman,” Hird said.
“On Monday night I agreed to tender my resignation, and that was accepted by the board.
MARK ROBINSON: JAMES HIRD FINALLY GETS THE PUNT
JON RALPH: HIRD SAVES HIS BEST FOR GRACEFUL EXIT
LAST GAME: FALLEN COACH POWERLESS TO HALT FINAL DEBACLE
“By making the decision to stand down, I hope the AFL industry will finally give the players the chance to play football,” Hird said.
A tearful Hird apologised for the torment of the 925-day drugs saga.
“To my family and friends … I’m truly sorry for what you have had to endure,” Hird said.
Hird signed a confidential settlement at 2pm, guaranteeing his 2016 base salary of $750,000, and at least $250,000 in extras.
The 1996 Brownlow medallist’s severance payment comes on top of the estimated $1 million he was paid while serving an AFL-imposed suspension last year.
Little revealed that he also would leave the club, following the World Anti-Doping Agency’s appeal in the case against the Essendon 34.
HURT FOR HIRD AS WATSON LEADS TRIBUTES
BILLS ADD UP AS CLUB PAYS OUT HIRD
BLUES STICK TO PLAN DESPITE DONS VACANCY
Hird indicated that the settlement included a non-disparagement clause that would prevent him from attacking the AFL — but vowed to tell his version of events one day.
Hird said: “In making the decision, I hope we all get the chance to move on and enjoy how wonderful life really is.”
He said WADA’s appeal “drove us back into the mire”.
“We want to be a football club again. We don’t want to be the centre of media speculation, we don’t want to be a place where there’s cameras out the front of our club every day, we don’t want to be on every TV show every second day, we don’t want to be every second article in the paper.
“We want to be a football club that’s talked about for its football,” he said.
“If by leaving ... that would enable our football club to go back to a football club, then I think it’s in their (the players’) best interests. They’re human beings. Whatever has happened, it’s none of their fault.”
Bombers skipper Jobe Watson said on Tuesday night: “This whole thing has changed people — and no one’s for the better because of it.”
The Bombers have slumped to 15th on the AFL ladder and capitulated to Adelaide by 112 points at Etihad Stadium on Saturday, triggering three days of behind-the-scenes talks.
HIRD GONE: CURSE OF THE FAVOURITE SONS
ANALYSIS: THE FALL OF ESSENDON’S GOLDEN BOY
FAN’S VIEW: WHY I STILL #STANDBYHIRD
HAMMERING: STRAW THAT BROKE CAMEL’S BACK?
Little said the decision was more about moving on from the drugs crisis than Hird’s ability to coach.
“As the season progressed, it has become increasingly apparent to the board that change was needed,” he said.
“To his credit, James has always accepted that he is ultimately accountable for the performance of the team.
“This outcome will provide the players and the club with the benefit of a fresh start and clean slate.
“(James) will forever be remembered as a champion of this club — a legend: the man who combined immense talent with fierce competitiveness, loyalty, endurance, and a sense of fair play; a player and a captain who was admired by all (and) loved by Bomber fans.
“James Hird’s place in the history of our club should never be questioned.”
Former Geelong defender Matthew Egan will coach the Bombers for the season’s final three rounds.
James Hird used his final address as coach of Essendon to stress his love for the club:
“I walked in here as a young 17-year-old in 1991, but Essendon had been in my heart since the day I was born.
On Friday afternoon at Paul Little’s office, Paul said it was the board’s opinion that the football club would never be truly free of the ASADA issue while I was coach and he was the chairman.
On Monday night I agreed to tender my resignation to the Essendon Football Club.
The year 2015 has been a disappointing year on the field.
Personally — and some of you might disagree — I believe I am a good coach. My record, even through troubled times, is something I am proud of.
My relationships with the players has always been my main focus.
My hesitation at leaving the football club at this time is that I will leave the players in a time they still need strong guidance and care, which I hope to continue to provide from a distance.
By making the decision to stand down I hope the AFL industry will finally give the players the chance to play football.
To my family and friends, Tania, Stephanie, Tom, Alex and William, I am truly sorry for what you have had to endure.
In making this decision I hope we all get a chance to move on and enjoy how wonderful life really is.
My final message to the players was this: Adversity is a friend that defines who we are.
In life you will not always win, you will make mistakes. You will not always have success at a chosen goal. But in our life we allow a challenge or adversity to break us or destroy our life then we have truly failed.
The adversity that we have struggled through has not broken us, so I don’t believe we have failed.
The Essendon Football Club was a great part of my life and I thank it for it.”
Essendon chairman Paul Little announced the removal as coach of favourite son James Hird in this letter to members:
“Today, the club has announced that James Hird has stood down as senior coach.
This is the culmination of many weeks of open discussion between the club and James, which ultimately led to James tendering his resignation last night.
Our on-field performances in 2015 have clearly been unacceptable. As the season progressed, it has become increasingly apparent to the board that change was needed.
To his credit, James has always accepted that he is ultimately accountable for the performance of the team.
There have been a number of mitigating factors around our performance in 2015, including injuries to key players and the ASADA/WADA process.
However, across every measure, season 2015 has fallen well short of our expectations, and James’ expectations.
On behalf of the board of the Essendon Football Club, I wish to thank James for being a loyal and dedicated servant of Essendon over the past 25 years. His love and passion for the club can never be questioned.
James is also one of the most resilient men I have met. In the midst of unprecedented pressure James has stood tall, and been steadfast throughout in his belief of what was right.
He will forever be remembered as a champion of this club. A legend.
The man who combined immense talent with fierce competitiveness; loyalty; endurance and a sense of fair play.
A player and a captain who was admired by all; loved by Bomber fans.
James Hird’s place in the history of our club should never be questioned.
I have spent in excess of two years working closely with James. We didn’t agree on everything, but we always agreed that the players were our No.1 priority.
In relation to his departure, the Board and James have agreed on a negotiated settlement. The terms of this shall remain confidential.
A process for selecting a new coach will be confirmed over coming days, and we will provide details on that process in due course.
In the meantime, Matthew Egan will coach the team for the remainder of the season in a caretaker capacity. Matthew has been an assistant coach at the club for the last four years, he knows the players intimately and will be supported by the other coaches.
The internal football department review, being conducted by CEO Xavier Campbell, will be finalised in the next month.
The review is broad ranging and has focused on: structure, reporting and evaluation, roles and responsibilities, list management and recruiting, and external benchmarking
Finally, I thought it also timely to discuss my own position as chairman in light of today’s announcement.
When I inherited the role of chairman, I resolved to see the ASADA investigation through to its conclusion and allow the next chairman of Essendon clear air to lead this club into its next great era.
As such I plan to stay on as chairman of the EFC until I can steer the club and its players through the final stage of the WADA appeal, which is likely to conclude during 2016.
As discussed, we are close to completing the review of our football operations, which now will include the search for a new senior coach.
Overseeing these changes, together with the orderly transition to a new chairman, will be my key focus during this period.”
JAMES HIRD OF ESSENDON
- Hird arrived at Essendon aged 17, following in the footsteps of his father and premiership-winning grandfather
- He left yesterday, aged 42, after taking his club to the greatest heights as a player and captain and a controversial five-year reign as coach
THE PLAYER
1992-2007: 253 games
National draft: Pick 79 in 2000, from Ainslie (ACT)
Captain: 1998-2005
Premierships 1993, 2000
Norm Smith Medal: 2000
Brownlow Medal: 1996
Best and Fairest: (5) 1994, 1995, 1996, 2003, 2007
All-Australian: (5) 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2003
THE COACH
20011-2015: 85 games
41 wins 43 losses 1 draw (48 per cent win rate)
2015: 5 wins, 14 losses, 15th*
2014: Suspended**
2013: 14 wins, 8 losses, 9th***
2012: 11 wins, 11 losses, 11th
2011 11 wins, 10 losses, 1 draw, 8th
* Resignation announced on Tuesday with three rounds to go
** Hird suspended for 12 months as part of AFL sanctions for Essendon’s 2012 supplements regimen; Bombers make finals and finish seventh under interim coach Mark Thompson
*** Essendon barred from finals as part of AFL punishment for 2012 supplements regimen
- Compiled by Eliza Sewell
‘Flexibility’ behind Bombers’ contract call
Essendon will go into a third season under Brad Scott with its best ruck mix still unclear, but a veteran is “excited” by the possibilities.
Angry Essendon members to turn away over steep price rises
Essendon fans are not happy with an increase in price of over $100 on select memberships. The Bombers are defending the decision despite the consequence of losing members.