James Hird wants to become Essendon coach again, interviews for role

We already know James Hird has been interviewed for the vacant Essendon coaching job, but who else have the Bombers sat down with?

James Hird.

James Hird was a part of a contingent of four who interviewed for the vacant Essendon coaching role yesterday.

It’s understood Brendon Lade, Dean Solomon, Adem Yze and Hird were part of the all the day interview process at Ernst and Young headquarters in the CBD.

It’s not known if AFL football operations manager Brad Scott will apply for the role.

He’s expected to give the Bombers an answer in the coming days.

James Hird could be making a remarkable return to coaching at his former club Essendon.

Hird, 49, has officially put his hand up for the position made vacant after the Bombers sacked Ben Rutten the day after their round 23 loss to Richmond.

Hird, who last coached the Bombers in 2015, is believed to have been interviewed by the Essendon coaching selection panel on Wednesday.

The decision by Hird came after several weeks of discussions with his family.

The Bombers are hoping to announce their new coach soon after the grand final.

Essendon coaching sub-committee member Jordan Lewis revealed four candidates — including Hird — pitched for the senior job on Wednesday, saying the panel was “impressed” with the presentations.

The interviews ran from 9am to almost 6pm, with Lewis confirming on Fox Footy’s AFL360 that Hird was one of those who presented.

James Hird coached Essendon to 41 wins from 85 games in charge.

Asked if the panel had to be impartial to their previous connections to the candidates or the candidates’ past histories, Lewis said: “I think you have to with every candidate … There were candidates that I have had personal relationships with and been involved with at certain clubs.

“You have to come at it from that lens and I think all the panel members were really impressed by the presentations.

“Having never been involved in that type of presentation or setting, for me it was intriguing and really enlightening. The way modern day coaches think about football and the way it should be played should encourage not only Essendon but the rest of the competition.

“There are certain elements of the football program, the way the club is structured, what a potential coach thinks about going into an organisation ... that for me was all new. It was stuff that you heard about, but you actually see it and then reference it in place.”

Hird was first appointed Essendon’s coach at the end of 2010 and was stood down by the AFL for the 2014 season after the Bombers supplements scandal.

James Hird returned to Essendon during the club’s 150th celebrations. Photo by Michael Klein

He returned to lead the club in 2015 before resigning late in that season.

Essendon’s coaching subcommittee — made up of football boss Josh Mahoney, ex-Carlton coach Robert Walls, four-time premiership star Jordan Lewis, Melbourne Vixens netball coach Simone McKinnis, current board member Dorothy Hisgrove, a people and culture expert, and former NAB CEO Andrew Thorburn — began interviewing candidates this week.

Adem Yze, Brendon Lade and AFL head of football operations Brad Scott have all been linked to the role.

James Hird and interim GWS coach Mark McVeigh.

Hird worked with the Giants in a leadership and coaching role this year.

James Hird leaves the field during a game in 2013.

Of that group, the highest profile is former North Melbourne coach Scott, who is yet to publicly declare his intentions.

Ross Lyon, Leon Cameron and Carlton assistant Ash Hanson all rejected an invitation to go through the process.

Speaking on the podcast The Howie Games in July and released last week, Hird said of coaching again: “There’s a lot of elements (to it)”.

“I was asked by a CEO of a footy club six weeks ago would I like to coach again, not his club but would I like to coach again,” Hird said.

“My honest answer was, there’s some elements about it I really like, I’d have to have some family considerations to do it. I love the fact that you get in deeply and you work with young people to create something really, really special and you create a great team environment.

“But I’ve worked very hard over the last six years to create another sort of business arm.

“I’m 50 - at 40 when it happened I could actually transition and go - at 50 you go down that then that’s almost it. You have to think very carefully about the path that I take and there has to be an opportunity too.”

FAN REACTION

Everyone LOVES a great redemption story. James Hird returning to coach Essendon and winning their first final in a million years would be a great!

— Max Blake ✌️ (@maxblake44) September 14, 2022

Finally a reason to smile about my footy club if James Hird comes back to the Bombers ❤️🖤 #Essendon#EssendonFC

— Bec 🔴⚫ (@sunstarbomber) September 14, 2022

James Hird has put his hand up to be apart of the coaching process and has had an interview with the club according to mark Robinson. Personally I think it’s great news and I would love him, what are your thoughts?

— Essendon_analysis (@essendonanalyse) September 14, 2022

Ohh James Hird please come home 🙏 @essendonfc

— Curtis (@CurtiZSe7eN) September 14, 2022

IF James Hird is appointed as senior coach…
THEN Essendon will have 100,000 members next year.

— Laurie (@BulldogKing) September 14, 2022

Anyone who thinks James Hird should coach Essendon again has rocks in their head. Like I can deal with any footy opinion but this one makes me so mad im mind blown it’s ridiculous

— Della (@Dellalovesssss) September 14, 2022

James Hird is going backwards for Essendon; they are stuck in the 80s

— Leigh Ritchie (@LionelRitchie18) September 14, 2022