James Hird’s Approach to Essendon’s Coaching Search
James Hird, a legendary figure in Essendon’s history, has expressed his awareness of not interfering with the club’s process of finding a new senior coach. He has deliberately avoided reaching out to his close friend and Bombers president, Andrew Welsh, to ensure that the search remains impartial.
Hird has publicly shown interest in returning as Essendon’s senior coach, a role he held 11 years ago during a challenging period for the club, which faced the supplements scandal. In an interview on Footy Classified, he mentioned how the situation recently brought back memories of being pursued by media, something he thought had long passed.
“There were a lot of stories, some true, some not true, some speculating. A lot of opinions about what I should do or shouldn’t do. But for me, I stand by what I said last (week): I’d love to be part of the process and see what happens.”
He noted that the topic grew increasingly intense throughout the week, creating a significant focus within the football world. However, he emphasized that this was not his intention.
A Longstanding Friendship
Hird and Welsh have shared a friendship spanning two decades. Welsh was coached by Hird during his final season as a player at the Bombers. Hird described their relationship as deep-rooted, highlighting that he coached Welsh in his last game in 2011 and has known him since he was a young kid.
“I have been very conscious not to reach out to him because I think that is spoiling the process, and actually inserting myself in a way that I don’t want to.”
Hird believes that Essendon should go through a thorough and exhaustive process to find the right candidate. If he is chosen, he would be thrilled; if not, he is content with that outcome.
“However, in terms of contacting Essendon or being contacted by them, that hasn’t happened.”
Ambitions for Essendon’s Future
Hird is driven by a desire to restore Essendon to its former glory, especially after years of struggling, including a finals-win drought that began in 2004. There have been reports suggesting that Hird has started assembling a team of assistant coaches and football bosses if he were to take up the vacancy at Tullamarine.
“Obviously, you think about who you’d like. You’ve got people in the football world who you respect and who you’d like to work with.”
But he clarified that putting together such a team has not yet occurred. “But putting a team together hasn’t happened … but you don’t get to this point now and not have been thinking about it day and night about how you would put it together.”
Hird also mentioned that he feels he has been preparing for this moment for the past 35 to 40 years. His dedication and experience make him a strong contender for the role, though the final decision rests with Essendon’s leadership.
