James Hird can’t be thrown in coaching deep end

James Hird in action during an Essendon Bombers training session to mark the anniversary of the 2000 Premiership at Windy Hill, Melbourne. Slattery Images

James Hird’s name was yesterday linked to the coaching job at Essendon. Nothing new in that, of course, except the fact that this time around, Hird himself has instigated the talk, saying he held an ambition “deep in my heart” to one day coach the Bombers.

With some significant pressure already on current coach Matthew Knights and a review of all football operations looming, both the timing and nature of Hird’s comments come across as curious.

“There’s something in me, deep in my heart, that says at some point I want to coach Essendon,” Hird told the Herald Sun. “If I’m not good enough or fail, so be it. But I am also a supporter of Matthew Knights.”

Hird also discussed his future Monday night on Fox program On The Couch, which prompted an interesting reaction from former teammate Matthew Lloyd, who suggested “maybe his mind’s shifted a little bit.” After yesterday’s big story, Lloyd was even more convinced.

“He’s changed his whole persona in regards to how he’s answering his questions,” Lloyd said. “Just in regards to saying, ‘I’ll coach one day. I want to coach Essendon one day’. Even those type of words, I haven’t heard before.”

So it seems the whole discussion is starting to look less like the media-versus-coaching saga that followed Garry Lyon’s retirement, and more like the Michael Voss and Nathan Buckley sagas of the past few of years.

The main difference is that the Bombers do not yet have a vacant head coach position (as Brisbane did for Voss) or the type of current coach that you would initiate a succession plan with (as Collingwood had for Buckley).

Even though plenty of fans would be happy to see the Knights era come to an end sometime soon, that may not happen. At least not this year. However, if Knights does survive, Hird’s shadow may still be lingering this time next year, so we can’t be ruling out anything at this stage.

The obvious gripe to have with Hird if a move to the coaching position does eventuate is his lack of coaching experience. We’ve heard many times the past few years that prospective coaches need an apprenticeship – more specifically, an assistant coach position – before taking on the main gig.

Voss was one that did not adhere to that theory and Buckley nearly followed suit. However for Hird, buying into the theory should be a no-brainer.

The jury is still well and truly out on the Voss transition, with the current season hardly providing a ringing endorsement for ex-players jumping straight into the hot seat, although two seasons probably isn’t enough to draw any conclusions.

That said, Tim Watson, going back a few years, is the most obvious example of how a quick transition can seem logical at the time and yet backfire so horribly. He only lasted two seasons.

Then there’s the little fact Hird has been retired for three years (or four if he takes over at the end of next season). That alone shouldn’t mean too much, but it does serve to reinforce the view that going straight to the role of head coach would be a gamble.

If Hird is serious about having such a strong desire to coach Essendon, going after an assistant job next year should be his priority.

If Knights is sacked this year and Hird announced as his replacement, the club should at the very least listen to Kevin Sheedy’s comment yesterday that “you need great assistants” and install quality coaches around him.

Any foray into coaching shouldn’t hinge on a gamble.