Since the Ziggy Switkowski report was compiled and distributed, has anyone seen anything to suggest the Essendon administration has wrested back control from the football department?
My position is one looking from outside in, but the ‘support James Hird’ message appears to have been amplified.
You’d think the best thing the new president could do is to talk about the football club, how it will stand long after any of its current custodians.
He should remove the ‘personalities’ out of the equation, and restore the message that the club is bigger than any one individual. That the club is even now going about implementing changes to ensure it’s governance is both strong and in control.
I realise the supporter base is no indication of what happens inside the four walls of the footy club, but while the #standbyhird message is an admirable attempt at loyalty, one must argue the loyalty is misdirected.
Does nobody realise it is the footy club that is besieged right now, and it’s the footy club that needs to be defended and protected?
I’m not saying Hird’s credibility hasn’t taken multiple hits, perhaps many unjustified and unfair – I am sure plenty of claims have been baseless and unfounded. We cannot pretend though, that many other names haven’t been subjected to similar innuendo.
Current staff members, former staff members, players, even the captain have been subjected to constant scrutiny.
Alarmingly, when the playing group took to twitter last night to convey their sentiments at what they felt was negativity towards events that unfolded at their football club in recent times, they as well choose to express themselves with this same #standybyhird message.
Instead of signs that the club has restored some balance and stepped back from the individualising nature that got them here in the first place, the Hird message has instead become even more suffocating.
You have to admit, #standbyhird is the strangest slogan for what should be a way of conveying support of the Essendon Football Club.
Stavros
Guest
Those texts where Hird said he wanted everything above board?
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Nahh, the fact he wasnt asked to stand down once the texts between him and Dank came out. James Hird knew all about the doping program.
Stavros
Guest
"HIRD is bigger than the club, that is now obvious" - based on what, Robinson's character assassination?
Jacques of Lilydale
Guest
A lot of what you say is correct Gazza, however to intimate that Hird is somehow an ill advised victim in all of this is to misrepresent the situation he and his club have put themselves in. HIRD is bigger than the club, that is now obvious. Standbyhird is the ultimate insult to the Essendon Football Club. Why not standbythe EFC? The CEO has departed, the recent Chairman has stood down and the new chairman is a headkicker that will embroil the EFC and the AFL in a never ending round of litigation. They have brought this on themselves and as a result have lost any respect we had for Hird the champion and Essendon the club. Hird has hired Julian Burnside and sacked his spin doctor when he ran out of spin. If you're innocent why would you go to such lengths? This will not end well. Unfortunately no one wins in this disgraceful conduct, we all lose. There is no integrity left in sport.
GazzaW
Guest
I think James Hird has massive capital due to his magnificent playing career, his obvious ability to inspire the players he works with and his genuine nature and charisma. I do think the desire for success has overridden his common sense and also think he has being ill advised encouraged when he should have been discouraged. That been said there have been massive failings at Essendon the management there have let their players and fans down. It's tribal for people under pressure to stand together and you wouldn't expect anything else from Loyal supporters. God knows i wouldn't want this to happen to my club or any club
Mark
Guest
franko, you actually made a half funny comment, whatever you are on, stick with it, it worked. BTW it's a harem in NZ, or flock to the uninitiated.
johno
Guest
I wonder what Stan D. Byhird thinks of all this ....... it's been a long week
Pot Stirrer
Guest
You have to admit, #standbyhird is the strangest slogan for what should be a way of conveying support of the Essendon Football Club. My nomination for strangest slogan ive seen given recent events is "whatever it takes"
Redb
Roar Guru
Call it what you like. We have polarisation. It's not going to change.
langou
Roar Guru
Good one Franko
Keldab
Guest
"It really doesnt matter what non EFC fans think, the club, players, fans are all in this together from the past Chairman to the new Chairman of the Board. Those who have followed it closely understand this" This kind of sums up my argument to be honest. This is far too insular a view, and why your brand message has become almost cultish. I was not asking about the origins of the standbyhird message, I was asking why it has become the catchcry of an administration, playing group...and why the new president appears fixated on the defence the coach rather than standing up for the football club. It's not the HFC after all.
Redb
Roar Guru
No mate you're a Carlton fan. You can't understand, Juddy is not yours you bought him. I can't think of any dyed in the wool Carlton player worth his salt that fans would rally behind. We #StandByHird
Doug Deep
Roar Pro
Yep, I understand it. It's called the cult of celebrity and Hird has EFC under an alarming spell, it would seem. Do you really believe there'd be any such #StandbyKnights movement if he was the coach overseeing a supplements regime? Of course not!
Redb
Roar Guru
AR, This occured the same day as Patrick Smith suggested Hird has stood down and then changed his mind. The Fremantle game. Melbourne radio was all over Demetriou's comments, it was clear the intent. You can rewrite hsitory as mcuh as you like. #Standby Hird began as a direct result. It really doesnt matter what non EFC fans think, the club, players, fans are all in this together from the past Chairman to the new Chairman of the Board. Those who have followed it closely understand this. Emma Quayle did a great job with this piece (warts and all). Suggest you read. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/to-bomber-fans-hird-no-villain-20130730-2qxfe.html
Australian Rules
Guest
That's right Liam. I took Demetriou's comment to be fairly benign, if not patently obvious. He suggested that, amidst the range of options Hird was considering, stepping down was one of those options. Duh!
Keldab
Guest
I am of the opinion that any campaign generated right now should be channelled towards the EFC, the club that you'd hope remains long after any of the current personalities dominating the headlines. This slogan however justified or explained, is damaging to your clubs brand. Hird is not the football club, should never have been, and certainly should not be now.
Doug Deep
Roar Pro
I'm no fan of Jabba, by any means, but can you please explain how his comment, in response to a direct question "Should James Hird stand down?" was disgraceful or unprofessional. These are the comments AD made in reference to Hird standing aside during the ASADA investigation back in April: "As he goes through his thought process ... that is an option he has to consider. ‘‘He has got an outstanding position in this game. He’s been a wonderful servant to the Essendon Football Club, an ornament to AFL football. ‘‘He’s entitled to be able to put his position forward, which he will get the opportunity (to do) next week with ASADA." It would be disgraceful and unprofessional of Hird if he didn't consider his own position under the circumstances. It's generally accepted as best practice to do just that, to at least consider standing aside during an investigation of this kind. If you want to pin Demetriou for being disgraceful and unprofessional I'd suggest going back to *that* phone call. But, if such a tip-off did take place, I'm guessing you won't be too upset about any alleged misconduct that was of benefit to EFC.
Peter
Guest
Quality comment franko
Redb
Roar Guru
Franko, Do you even know what it means? lol #StandbyHird
Franko
Guest
"#StandbyHird which trended worldwide" - Worldwide? Maybe a farmer in NZ tweeted something similar but it was proabably referring to his flock rather than “needles” James. Worldwide, please…