James Hird

James Hird is a former professional Australian rules football player and coach, best known for his time with the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He played alongside notable players such as Jason Johnson (Australian footballer), Matthew Lloyd, and Dustin Fletcher, and was coached by Kevin Sheedy. Hird's career was marked by numerous achievements, including winning the Brownlow Medal in 1996 and being named in the Australian Football League Team of the Year in 1996, 1997, and 1998. He also represented the Australia national Australian rules football team in the International Rules Series against the Ireland national Australian rules football team.

● Early Life

Hird was born in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, and grew up in a family of Australian rules football enthusiasts. His father, Allan Hird, was a former player and coach, and his brother, Stephen Hird, also played in the Victorian Football League (VFL). Hird attended St Edmund's College, Canberra, where he developed his skills and was eventually drafted by the Essendon Football Club in the 1988 VFL draft. He was influenced by players such as Wayne Carey, Garry Lyon, and Paul Kelly (Australian footballer), and was coached by Ron Evans (Australian footballer) in his early years.

● Playing Career

Hird's playing career spanned 16 seasons, during which he played 253 games for the Essendon Football Club and kicked 343 goals. He was a key player in the team's 1993 and 2000 AFL Grand Final wins, and was named in the Australian Football League Team of the Year five times. Hird also represented the Victoria Australian rules football team in the State of Origin (Australian rules football) series, playing against teams such as the South Australia Australian rules football team and the Western Australia Australian rules football team. He played alongside notable players such as Robert Harvey, Nathan Buckley, and Peter Riccardi, and was coached by Kevin Sheedy and Mick Malthouse.

● Coaching Career

After retiring as a player, Hird turned to coaching and was appointed as the senior coach of the Essendon Football Club in 2011. He coached the team for four seasons, leading them to the 2013 AFL Finals Series and working with players such as Jobe Watson, Dyson Heppell, and Michael Hurley (Australian footballer). Hird also worked with assistant coaches such as Mark Thompson (Australian footballer), Simon Goodwin (Australian footballer), and Matthew Egan (Australian footballer). He was a member of the AFL Coaches Association and attended coaching conferences such as the AFL Coaches Conference.

● Controversies

Hird's coaching career was marked by controversy, particularly surrounding the Essendon Football Club supplements saga. The saga involved the use of thymosin beta-4 and other supplements by players, and resulted in Hird being suspended for 12 months by the Australian Football League (AFL). The saga also involved other notable figures such as Stephen Dank, Andrew Demetriou, and Gillon McLachlan. Hird was also involved in a Federal Court case against the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA), which was related to the supplements saga.

● Personal Life

Hird is married to Tania Hird and has four children. He is a graduate of the University of New South Wales and has a degree in Bachelor of Commerce. Hird has been involved in various charity work, including supporting organizations such as the Starlight Children's Foundation and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He has also been involved in media work, including appearing on television programs such as The Footy Show and Before the Game. Hird has written articles for publications such as The Age and The Australian, and has been a columnist for the Herald Sun. Category:Essendon Football Club players