James Hird blindsided by claims of plot to bring him back as Essendon coach

Former Essendon coach James Hird says he “nearly fell off the couch” when he saw a report about bringing him back as coach.

Former Essendon coach James Hird says he “nearly fell off the couch” when he saw a report ex-chairman Paul Little wants to return to the Bombers board and bring Hird back as coach.

It comes as veteran reporter Caroline Wilson claims Hird still “harbours an ambition to coach Essendon” again following his messy exit from the club in the aftermath of the supplements saga.

On Monday night, Wilson reported Little would be interested in returning to the club he chaired between 2013 and 2015.

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He oversaw the fallout after Essendon players were injected with substances such as anti-obesity drug AOD-9604 and thymosin - later concluded by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to be the banned performance-enhancing substance Thymosin Beta-4.

Sanctions included the club being banned from the 2013 finals series, Hird being suspended for 12 months and 34 players being suspended during the 2016 season.

Hird returned as coach after serving his suspension in 2014 but then resigned in 2015 when the Bombers were languishing near the bottom of the ladder.

AFL legend James Hird said he was blindsided by the report. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

He briefly returned as an assistant coach at GWS in 2022 under ex-teammate and interim boss Mark McVeigh, and has since taken a key role at VFL side Port Melbourne, suggesting he still holds interest in coaching.

But Hird’s return to the Bombers would reportedly be part of a broader move inspired by agitators who believe the club is on the wrong path under coach Brad Scott and president Dave Barham - who are attempting to move on from an era led by those longing desperately for Essendon’s glory days.

Little “has left the door very much open to a return to the Essendon board, a return that, in my view, would include James Hird as coach”, Wilson said on Seven on Monday night.

Essendon coach James Hird (R) and chairman Paul Little during a press conference in 2015. (AAP Image/David Crosling)

“All year, this story has been festering. Kevin Sheedy, who left the board, Adrian Dodoro, who left the club in really highly acrimonious circumstances ... there’s been barbs from both at various people at the club.

“But we had started to hear after the club resigned Brad Scott until the end of 2027 that there was some unrest from some of the old guard who weren’t happy about the re-signing, didn’t think it was necessary.”

Little told Wilson: “You never say never to anything. It hasn’t been an easy time for the club these past few years. There may come a time when there is a need for a restructure. If I felt I could add value to the club, and if they felt I could help, then I would consider it.”

Wilson extrapolated that Hird would be part of any Little return, which stunned the Essendon great.

“It’s news to me and I haven’t spoken to Paul Little for months,” he told Nine.

“I nearly fell off the couch when I heard it.”

The story comes on the same night former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley was declared the “strong favourite” to become the first coach of the Tasmania Devils.

Originally published as James Hird blindsided by claims of plot to bring him back as Essendon coach