Written by Megan Taylor, sports reporter covering international sports since 2020
James Hird Essendon coach hopes are officially back in motion, with the Bombers great confirming he will take part in the club’s search for a new senior AFL coach.
Hird, who resigned as Essendon coach in 2015, said he had spoken with club president and former teammate Andrew Welsh last Friday. The Bombers have opened the process to a wide field and are expected to interview 10 to 15 candidates.
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Hird Back In The Process
"Andrew Welsh and I had a chat on Friday, just letting me know that the process was about to start and that I'd be part of that process," Hird told the Nine Network.
"So, yeah, it was good, good to finally have some contact from the club and have a chat about what the next steps are in this process that we're all looking forward to."
Hird made his interest clear soon after Brad Scott was sacked in late May. His return bid, though, remains one of the most divisive questions at Essendon.
A Club Split By History
Hird still has strong supporters, including former coach Kevin Sheedy, who believes he deserves another chance in the senior role.
But the supplements saga continues to sit heavily over the club. Hird was suspended for a season by the Australian Football League over his role in the program that led to 34 Essendon players serving doping bans.
He has apologised for his part in that period, but there is still no full agreement inside the club’s base at Tullamarine about whether he should return.
Bombers Search For Direction
Essendon are currently being coached by Dean Solomon, Hird’s 2000 premiership teammate. Solomon has not yet confirmed he will apply, but he is widely expected to be part of the race.
The Bombers have won just once this season, back in April, and the next appointment will carry huge weight. For Essendon, this is not only about finding a coach, but about deciding how much of their past should shape their next move.