Coach James Hird - is it time to give him a second chance at coaching an AFL club? Gil says yes!

[Heavy B]

Let's all laugh at Essendon

 

[Red Bull]

sigh

it was bad enough being a dons supporter on this site without Hird in the seat.
Might be time to retire the ole account.....unless we start winning. then **** the lot of you

And why wouldn’t the dons start winning …
Adrian is the GM List & Recruiting after all …
He’s undefeated in trade week and apparently got the delisted Tom Phillips in his sights !!
Long live the King …

 

[Del165198]

Wouldn't be surprised at all if Hirdy was working in the background to unseat Rutten, like he was to get rid of Knights. The prolonged media attacks on a second year coach, who overachieved in his first year, were utterly ridiculous.

Unfortunately this sort of cult like behaviour goes with the territory at Essendon.

 

[BigPond101]

Wouldn't be surprised at all if Hirdy was working in the background to unseat Rutten, like he was to get rid of Knights. The prolonged media attacks on a second year coach, who overachieved in his first year, were utterly ridiculous.

Unfortunately this sort of cult like behaviour goes with the territory at Essendon.

Sheedy was on his behalf

 

[Rabish Binney]

Does Tanya know about this? Has she been consulted??

 

[L_W_P]

I mean, if we aren't fans of Essendon don't we want the train wreck to happen?

That said; It's insane that he's even being considered right now.

If he really wants to coach again he should go and spend a couple years with his mate Dimma. Or under Scott at Geelong. Or see how Craig McRae

Craig Mcrae

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1.4

5star

gets buy in from his boys. Then he can take some more media stuff without being THE guy. He can clear the air and get all the shit questions and side eye looks out of the way. Get the greater public used to seeing him back around the scene.

Then in a few years' time, if the job is available again, he takes over with a much better public profile AND increased coaching skills.

 

[Farm Boy]

Hird has basically avoided interviews since he was finally sacked. If he becomes coach he won't be able to avoid them anymore and there are journalists who are going to ask much harder questions than Robbo will.

I don’t think Hird will care. Once he’s coach again it’s all worth it for him. I am astounded he is being considered, but we also have to be aware that he may be one of the only candidates left in the process. Astute operators like Lyon, Cameron, do not want a bar of the job, as the club is deep in a crisis. Essendon is a shambles and Hird might well be the only bloke who wants the job.


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[Mofra]

I don’t think Hird will care. Once he’s coach again it’s all worth it for him. I am astounded he is being considered, but we also have to be aware that he may be one of the only candidates left in the process. Astute operators like Lyon, Cameron, do not want a bar of the job, as the club is deep in a crisis. Essendon is a shambles and Hird might well be the only bloke who wants the job.

If the AFL were concerned by players getting booed, just wait until Hird makes a comeback and is put on the big screen...

 

[Juddernaut08]

I mean, if we aren't fans of Essendon don't we want the train wreck to happen?

That said; It's insane that he's even being considered right now.

If he really wants to coach again he should go and spend a couple years with his mate Dimma. Or under Scott at Geelong. Or see how Craig McRae gets buy in from his boys. Then he can take some more media stuff without being THE guy. He can clear the air and get all the s**t questions and side eye looks out of the way. Get the greater public used to seeing him back around the scene.

Then in a few years' time, if the job is available again, he takes over with a much better public profile AND increased coaching skills.

too smart, hope they dont do this!

 

[Mofra]

too smart, hope they dont do this!

Do you think Essendon have been smart operators in the past few years?
On current trends, they appoint a random guy called James Heard coach (and in the process, spell 'coach' wrong)

 

[Forward Press]

The fact he is being considered shows the club and it's culture has no contrition

By far the most loathsome club in the comp

People are saying "well, he should be allowed to apply, he's been allowed to coach for years now, what's the problem?"

Well, the problem is even if you ignore the scandal (and you cannot), he hasn't done anything of note in the past 7 years. You know, I know, we all know he is only being considered because of his name, and any Essendon fans attempting to claim he is the most qualified candidate out there is essentially an apologist for the scandal, because his involvement in the scandal which led to him being banned for 12 months should have already automatically ruled him out of any coaching position in the first place. Like many around here, I don't really respect turncoats but I would be fully on board and respect any Essendon fan that decided to follow some other club if Hird was hired again.

I'd do the exact same thing if West Coast was going through a similar phase.

 

[Chief]

Do you think Essendon have been smart operators in the past few years?
On current trends, they appoint a random guy called James Heard coach (and in the process, spell 'coach' wrong)

"We paid $1 million for a couch??"

 

[10571z]

The fact he is being considered shows the club and it's culture has no contrition

By far the most loathsome club in the comp

It’s actually insanity that this is probably going to happen.

He wasn’t even a good coach first time round… this isn’t Clarkson returning

 

[Mofra]

"We paid $1 million for a couch??"

Worth every cent

 

[juss]

The fact he's being considered shows that Essendon have come nowhere as a club since the incident, and are still a terribly run club off field.
Don't tell me he's the best available coach in the country.

 

[10571z]

The fact he's being considered shows that Essendon have come nowhere as a club since the incident, and are still a terribly run club off field.
Don't tell me he's the best available coach in the country.

It’s obvious to everyone they need to cut quickly from the 2000 glory years group.

That era is so far gone and to try and emulate it using Sheedy and Hird again is laughable.

I know how it feels and it hurt when Bucks and Eddie were given the flick… but we forgot pretty quickly when Fly rocked up with new fresh assistants.

Essendon need to stop looking through the rear view mirror and focus on the future

 

[chunkylover53]

So many questions.

Why the **** does he even want it so soon? He's putting a target on his back (again) after it almost drove him to suicide last time. Doesn't he have kids? Why is he hell bent on continuing to put his family through shit for his own interests?

Is the bloke a genuine psycho?

 

[Shane Heard]

Literally can't tell if Shane Heard is the world's best troll or just insanely deluded. Either way - good value

A bit in between lol

Im at the stage where as a supporter/ member you once again understand you’re powerless to have any say in the internal decisions of the club and just gotta hope Barham isn’t a total unhinged lunatic making stupid decisions based on luck and hope.

There’s one key moment all you egg heads here have forgotten.

On the 150 celebration game night when Hird walked out , there was an overwhelmingly loud cheer for him by the supporters.

I’d say the love and respect for Hird is 80/20 for him by the supporters / members

It’s really not that insane getting him back. What other fantastical choices of experienced coaches are there right now ? No one.

Anyway…it’s been a rough ride for many years but we do have a very good core group of under 25s at the club

They need a coach who will drive them to not accept defeat

Woosha and Rutten did a great job being nice guys and positive and nurturing and slowly getting us out of the abyss thst was the suspension of our senior players that time

It’s a bit of a roll the dice moment for the club but we need someone with a detailed knowledge of our young squad and a plan to put them in positions that suit them and develop them in that role.

That’s what a coach does

Define the role for each player out on the field and demand ruthless attack in the ball

It’s a simple game…

 

[Shane Heard]

So many questions.

Why the * does he even want it so soon? He's putting a target on his back (again) after it almost drove him to suicide last time. Doesn't he have kids? Why is he hell bent on continuing to put his family through s**t for his own interests?

Is the bloke a genuine psycho?

Because football is his life and he’s mentally tough and has shown time and time again he can bounce back from near oblivion

Do you remember the time he got his face caved in and when he got back after the injury the first thing he did within minutes on the ground was dive headfirst into a contest?

No. You probably don’t .

 

[faible]

Hird has basically avoided interviews since he was finally sacked. If he becomes coach he won't be able to avoid them anymore and there are journalists who are going to ask much harder questions than Robbo will.

Doubtful, the AFL will ensure journos are compliant to keep their accreditation.

 

[faible]

On the 150 celebration game night when Hird walked out , there was an overwhelmingly loud cheer for him by the supporters.

Sure; as a past champion player who'd been through a pretty horrendous time off-field including a suicide attempt.

That doesn't mean he should come back as coach.

 

[jj1978]

Does Tanya know about this? Has she been consulted??

Tanya is one of the cogs behind it all.. have you seen Any Given Sunday? The quarterbacks wife would not stand for her husband retiring.. would mean she’d be out of the spotlight. I’ve seen Tanya at a sponsored event and she’s just like that.

 

[chunkylover53]

Because football is his life and he’s mentally tough and has shown time and time again he can bounce back from near oblivion

Do you remember the time he got his face caved in and when he got back after the injury the first thing he did within minutes on the ground was dive headfirst into a contest?

No. You probably don’t .

That's fine.

What about his kids and family? The scrutiny will be beyond belief and he's willing to put the spotlight all on himself and them again. If he himself knows he can bounce out of it, then cool - he should be able to live in peace knowing that.

Instead, he feels the need to just go through more and more shit which impacts everyone around him just to prove himself.

FWIW I actually didn't think he was a bad coach last time, nor do I hate the bloke. I just find it baffling he's willing to put himself and more importantly. those around him through hell again so soon.

Another question is what sort of assistants will want to work under him? I can't imagine much of the industry will be a fan of the appointment, and his head coaching experience isn't anything to ride home about.

 

[juss]

It’s obvious to everyone they need to cut quickly from the 2000 glory years group.

That era is so far gone and to try and emulate it using Sheedy and Hird again is laughable.

I know how it feels and it hurt when Bucks and Eddie were given the flick… but we forgot pretty quickly when Fly rocked up with new fresh assistants.

Essendon need to stop looking through the rear view mirror and focus on the future

Well said. Hard to move forward as a club when you keep clinging to the past.
Hird was a club playing legend, 20 years ago. They clinged onto him as a coach, when he had basically no coaching experience. They are still trying to cling to him now.

 

[Sharaz Jek]

This might be an unpopular opinion but Hird should be given another chance. He was taken on without enough experience the first time round and made one bad call in trusting those around him. But he galvanised the players and steered the club through some pretty hard times. He has learnt his lesson and by all accounts has really rounded out his coaching ability at the Giants, taking it to the elite level. As a footballer, he was superb, a natural leader and a person who not only got the best out if himself, but also those around him. As a coach he can do the same and take the Dons to next level, despite what those on this board think. He is a legend of the dons whose next chapter is about to be written as he brings the Dons back to relevance.

Gil was right, bring Hird back.

Dr Bruce Reid sent multiple letters to key people, the CEO and Hird included, raising concerns about Dank acting separately from the medical team and suggesting that he report to him and follow his protocols to administer any supplements.

Dank refused, and Hird backed him, multiple times.

This influenced the CEO and he backed Hird.

All then attempted to paint Dr Reid as out-of-touch and old-fashioned.

But Hird was a victim of circumstance?

Hird was arrogant and the club leaders were too cowed to challenge him.

Hird also had support in the form of Danny Corcoran, someone else who Hird got back to the club, who was brought in the help run the football department.

While the normal hiring practices were not observed for many roles at the club, Dank was interviewed by... Danny Corcoran.

There is a reason why Thompson only got a fine, yet Danny Corcoran got suspended.

Hird showed a serious lack of judgement in trusting Dank, and whilst he didn't have the responsibility of ensuring people were kept accountable, he had a lot of unearned influence and he used it carelessly.

Hird also had no compunction in throwing other people under the bus, whether it was his ridiculous interview with Tracey Holmes where he viciously attacked Reid or his tacit approval of McVeigh's hit-job on Reimers.

And what makes anyone think Hird can coach?

The fact Hird only coached them to one finals appearance in four years? That Thompson outcoached him? That Hird only won five games in his last season?

Or that his legacy-destroying failure of diligence in the drugs' programme?