Essendon great James Hird shares update on potential role at club

Essendon great James Hird has revealed he had no meeting with the Bombers over a potential role and is unlikely to return to the club. Channel 7’s Caroline Wilson reported last week that the club had reached out to Hird over a potential meeting. But that then left Hird “genuinely upset” over the leak to the media.

Hird disappointed as Essendon coaching approach leaked Hird missed out on the senior coaching position to good friend Mark McVeigh during a drawn-out process that was finally concluded last month. The club great had previously stated he was only interested in the senior coaching position, but that stance appeared to soften on the basis of last week’s proposed meeting. However, in a further development, Hird said the meeting never took place and no offer was made. “No meeting and no formal offer from the Essendon Football Club,” he said on Nine.

When pressed further by Footy Classified host Eddie McGuire, Hird conceded it probably brings an end to any return to the club. “I’m not sure. I don’t know,” Hird said before adding, “that probably is it, yes”. McVeigh said he’d welcome Hird back to the club with open arms when he was appointed coach last month. Hird said the pair had spoken a few times since the appointment. “I’ve spoken to Mark a few times, yes,” he said. “He’s a mate, and we speak about footy and opinions on different players.” Hird also said he’s not sure what happens next, but it has previously been reported that other clubs had made contact over a potential assistant coaching role. Last week, AFL great Luke Hodge said he believed Essendon people just wanted to see Hird back at the club “in any area”. “So if they can’t get him as an assistant coach, get him in the door somehow, because the knowledge, the connection he’s got to the football club and the people there, you take it,” Hodge said on The Agenda Setters. Kane Cornes believed it would be best for Hird to look at other opportunities at other clubs. “That’s what I think I would be doing.

So meet with the Bombers, absolutely no worries. Find out what they’ve got to say, what sort of role they would like for him to have. But I think it would be great if he went to another club, experienced that, and then tried to get back as a senior coach,” Cornes said. Meanwhile, Dean Solomon, who served as interim coach following Brad Scott’s departure, is expected to decide his future this week. Solomon had previously stated he would be keen to stay at the club in any role.