Hird throws hat in ring as Essendon launches coaching search

James Hird has confirmed he is a formal candidate for the Essendon Football Club's senior coaching position, marking a potential return to Windy Hill more than a decade after his tumultuous departure from the role.

The dual premiership-winning Bombers midfielder, who resigned as head coach in 2015 amid the club's supplements scandal, indicated he had been approached by president Andrew Welsh to enter the recruitment process.

Hird's previous tenure at Essendon

Hird's original four-year stint as Essendon coach between 2010 and 2015 proved fractious. Despite establishing the club as a genuine premiership contender, his tenure was overshadowed by the supplements program scandal that resulted in the club's suspension from the 2016 season and substantial penalties from the AFL.

His resignation in 2015 came as the investigation into the controversial peptide program reached its conclusion, with Hird departing before the full weight of sanctions could be implemented. The coach has since worked in various football roles but has never returned to senior AFL coaching.

"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 said.

Bombers open to broad candidate field

Essendon's decision to consider Hird reflects the club's stated commitment to a comprehensive recruitment process following Brad Scott's sacking earlier this year. The Bombers have signalled they will interview between 10 and 15 candidates as they search for their next permanent coach.

The club's willingness to revisit Hird suggests that sufficient time has passed since his previous tenure for Essendon to separate his coaching credentials from the historical controversies that defined his earlier period at the club.

Competitive field taking shape

With multiple potential applicants expected to emerge, the recruitment race is shaping as one of the AFL's more significant coaching vacancies in recent years. Essendon's status as a traditional powerhouse club, combined with established playing talent on their list, makes the position an attractive prospect for experienced coaching candidates across the competition.

The club's methodical approach to the process suggests they are prioritising comprehensive assessment of available options rather than rushing to a decision that could prove problematic in the longer term.

Source: ABC News