AFL news: James Hird on verge of return to AFL club land

Thanks to good friend Mark McVeigh, James Hird is set to spend an intimate day with the GWS Giants as he plans to give rare insight into his emotional AFL journey.

James Hird spoke about his football journey with Giants players. Picture: Colleen Petch

James Hird will fly to Sydney for another cameo appearance at Greater Western Sydney courtesy of his close friendship with Giants’ senior assistant coach and former Essendon teammate Mark McVeigh.

The Giants set up camp in the Sofitel complex where Hird was working in June, which led to McVeigh asking Hird to deliver a 60-minute session detailing his wild ride in football in the lead-up to GWS knocking off eventual premier Melbourne at the MCG.

Now Hird is poised to spend another day at the Giants for an even more intimate exchange of ideas and discussions surrounding his experiences.

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GWS tapped into assistant coach Mark McVeigh’s relationship with James Hird.

“James just came down as a guest speaker for an hour (in Melbourne), and it was brilliant,” Giants football boss Jason McCartney said.

“So Mark’s been able to speak to James about coming up and spending a day with us.

“He’ll just jump in some of the sessions and we’ll drill a bit deeper into what he spoke about with some of his experiences.

“When those opportunities present through relationships with staff members or players you certainly jump at that.”

McCartney said it would be foolish not to utilise the club’s links to such sporting legends, with beloved GWS staff member Gavin Robertson previously getting former Test captain Steve Waugh to impart his words of wisdom.

“When you’ve got access to these people you’re certainly not going to knock it back,” McCartney said.

“If our guys only pick up one or two things along the way it’s all worthwhile.

James Hird spoke about his football journey with Giants players. Picture: Colleen Petch

“When (Hird) spoke to us before the Melbourne game it was just a bit of a snapshot of his football journey.

“Obviously some amazing highs but some really dark lows there, whether it be when he had the navicular stress fracture to once he’d finished the coaching position at Essendon.

“He’s someone that’s been through a lot in football and in life. Constantly everyone is learning and anything he can impart in a positive way with our guys we’re certainly happy to latch onto.

“It’s a great thing to have a great person within our game that’s had some tough times just to be back in the fold, albeit in a guest speaking role.

“He’s on a recovery phase himself from what he went through. We’re just very lucky that through Mark’s relationship we get to spend some time with him.”

McVeigh will take a small group of players, including the club’s new leadership group, to the Central Coast for a night this weekend for a planning session on how they can set up for season 2022

Big sign Hird is ready to return to footy

—Simeon Thomas-Wilson

James Hird has moved a step closer to a return to football after Greater Western Sydney confirmed on Wednesday that the Essendon champion would share his expertise with the club this weekend.

The Bombers great and former coach has been engaged as a guest speaker at a Giants leadership session.

There is some belief in the industry that the Giants are willing to work with Hird in a greater capacity next year, possibly in a mentoring or assistant coaching role.

The club said no formal offer or approach had been made.

Hird was contacted for comment on Wednesday night.

Hird is expected to address the Giants leadership group as well as their emerging leaders as part of their program this weekend.

It is not the first time the Brownlow medallist has spent time with the Giants.

James Hird could be on the verge of a return to AFL club land. Picture: Nicole Garmston

He spoke to the players in their Melbourne hub this year after a Covid-19 outbreak forced the club to flee NSW.

The appearance was organised by Hird’s former teammate and current GWS senior assistant coach Mark McVeigh.

Hird spoke about his story and the leadership lessons he had learnt during his career, impressing many at the Giants.

At the moment Hird doesn’t have a formalised role with the Giants and it is unclear whether it will be an ongoing relationship.

The Bombers great hasn’t coached since he resigned as coach of Essendon after Round 20 of the 2015 season.

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

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

In 2018 Fremantle made contact with Hird regarding a part-time, Melbourne-based football role.

Kevin Sheedy has long been an advocate for Hird’s return to club land. Picture: AAP

Hird’s coach at Essendon Kevin Sheedy has previously said he deserves another chance in the AFL.

“I would stake everything I had that James Hird will be a great coach, if he is ever given the chance,” Sheedy told the Herald Sun in 2019

“Please don’t underestimate the young man who has a fierce amount of pride and would have been hurt (by the scandal) like anyone else would have been hurt.

“I’m not blaming anyone, but there is no way known he would have wished for what happened.

“And he has said sorry. How many times do you have to say sorry?

“I know people will jump at shadows because of what happened and that’s unfortunate.

“But he is one of the most intelligent football thinkers I’ve met. I think he is prime, ready to coach at an AFL club (again).”

Originally published as AFL news: James Hird on verge of return to AFL club land