AFL 2025: Essendon coach Brad Scott on report of James Hird homecoming

Essendon coach Brad Scott has shrugged off reports club great James Hird could be in the frame for his position, refusing to let it “distract” him.

Essendon coach Brad Scott says he doesn’t “have any issues” with reports linking club great James Hird to a Bombers coaching return.

The report, aired on Channel 7 on Monday night, claimed former chief executive Paul Little would not rule out a return to Essendon and would seek to bring Hird back with him.

Hird poured cold water over the report hours later, declaring he “nearly fell off the couch” when he heard the news.

Scott, who extended his contract until the end of 2027 earlier this year, said he needn’t react to the report and insisted doing so would only be a distraction.

“I can’t control that, the risk in any of that is that it distracts me from the task at hand,” he said.

“I’ve been really overwhelmed with the level of support and follow through, really the things that I have made clear that were non-negotiables when I came to the club around stability and support for all levels of the football club.

“Our board and executive has delivered on those things, I just need to focus on my job and let all the other stuff go on in the background and not let it distract me or anyone else who’s in a position of coaching or executive of the club.

“One thing you learn in 30 years in the AFL industry is there’s always something going on, and I think the more you get distracted by those things you take your eye off what you really need to be focused on.

“We need to be focused on our on-field performance right now and developing this team into the team we want to be.”

Essendon coach Brad Scott has shrugged off reports club great James Hird could be in the frame for his position. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Hird steered Essendon for four seasons – before and after the suspended 2014 season for his role in the supplements saga of 2012.

He made a coaching return in 2022 when he helped former teammate Mark McVeigh at GWS before joining Port Melbourne VFL as an assistant this year.

Scott was asked further follow-up questions, including whether he had spoken to Hird since the report, but quickly ended the press conference.

“We’ve known each other for over 30 years, we don’t spend a lot of time together,” he said.

“But he’s now a member of the media and I try to be respectful to all members of the media as a collective

“This might surprise you but I don’t have any issues with the last 24 hours, whatsoever.”

James Hird poured water on the report only hours after it aired. Picture: Mark Dadswell/Getty Images

Prior to his exit from the press conference, Scott confirmed that midfielder Darcy Parish would return from injury this week through the VFL.

Scott said the Bombers would be running the gauntlet by rushing Parish into the senior side this weekend off no match fitness.

“He’s a chance, our VFL team had a bye so it’s a hard one I suspect to bring him in on a couple of training sessions alone,” he said.

“I think he’s more likely to play in the VFL this week than the AFL. Provided things go well at training, he’ll play at some level.

“Then we’ll look to have him available the week after. In terms of other changes, it’s hard to pick players on one week of form with the VFL having a bye.

“We’ve got some challenges in the availability space, but we still have options which is pleasing. Hopefully, a couple of guys will prove their fitness today at training.

“Guys like Jade Gresham, hopefully Jade is available. We’ll see how he trains.”

Originally published as AFL 2025: Essendon coach Brad Scott on report of James Hird homecoming