Hird needs Essendon more than the Bombers need Hird

Mick, there was no purpose to Tania's comments. All she did was to give oxygen to an issue that was dying a natural death. Essendon supporters are entitled to expect more self discipline from senior employees of their club. The fact that James was gagged raises the suspicion that he was speaking through his wife.

It's hard to garner public support when you have been gagged by due process imposed by the AwFuL and the Essendon Football Club. Tania's comments merely vented the frustration that the Hird family and supporters have been placed under for a period of more than 12 months. ASADA investigation will ultimately find that nothing illegal has been imbibed by EFC players and there will be no charges to answer. The penalties imposed on the club and the people associated with it are therefore considered extreme and draconian to say the least. Guilty of poor governance - no doubt. Guilty of drug use - no way.

I have always given James Hird the benefit of the doubt because I had always thought he had the club's best interest at heart - that was until last week's outburst from Tania Hird - If Hird wants the support of the club members and the public he should have kept a low profile - I really have to question the motivation and the timing of the Tania Hird interview - why now? - Are they deliberately trying to get the supporters, the players and the club officials to turn on them.

is there nothing more boring than a drugs in sport scandal? The Roar (and the general media) is saturated in stories relating to Hird, his horrible football club, his wife, the drugs and the whole monotonously protracted affair. it's tiresome. It has been more than 12 months now. Time to let due process happen behind the scenes and just enjoy the start of what should be an exciting new footy season.

Jorji, so Essendon beat Carlton to the punch in seeking out these illegal supplements eh? There will be a lot of disappointed Carlton supporters if the ASADA investigations come to nothing in terms of infraction notices. I am really looking forward to the round 3 match between Essendon and Carlton. I suppose if Essendon beat Carlton this will be put down to the illegal advantage that Essendon gained from their 2012 supplements program.

Jorji that's my point - did you even read it? Your earlier post is mumble jumble. The Bombers came to attention when they suffered a high number of soft tissue injuries - red flag for certain types of drug use in addition to the players looking like the Incredible Hulk in a short period of time. And the rest is history.

They performed on the juice.

David, we have been waiting and waiting. Do you think Hird will be exonerated with regard to the lack of governance aspect? I don't think very much more will come out now that we don't already know and I am not expecting infraction notices. I have been very critical of Andrew Demetriou's handling of this issue but attacks on him from the Hird camp are a very dumb move. As a fellow Essendon supporter I would like to commend you and Stavros for your passionate support of the EFC but we have to accept that mistakes were made in 2012. I have trouble understanding the great interest in this saga coming from supporters of other clubs, some of whom I would describe as trolls. You can't build yourself or your footy club up by pulling others and their footy clubs down.

Malthouse and Sheedy are the exception to the rule they aren't the norm. If they were, every other coach could just walk in and within a few years, lead their side to flag. If Hird as senior coach needs another experienced coach helping him out with the football/tactics side it just proves my point that he should have done a proper apprenticeship to start with. With that much at stake, the senior coaching role isn't for amateurs and first timers who want to give coaching a crack because it took their fancy.

Maybe if Essendon were not using stimulants in order to boost their strength, explosiveness and endurance they would not have had a record anything like 8th and 8th. It may have been more like 12th, 10th and 16th. This is what all seems to have been conveniently forgotten in the discussions on this "poor victim". What about all the other clubs that are sticking within the laws of the game? Does everyone remember how this got into the public eye in the first place? I'll refresh your memories. After Carlton was utterly smashed physically by Essendon in 2012 resulting in one of the players getting a broken collar bone, then Carlton coach Brett Ratten mentioned it to the Carlton board after the game that the Bombers had physically developed extraordinarily quickly. One of the Carlton board members just happened to know the one pharmacist in all of Melbourne located in a South Yarra pharmacy who specialises in this type of concoction and he said he was brewing stuff up for the Essendon club. Then once Carlton heard the story, the AFL and rest of the clubs got wind of what the Bombers were up to. It is very well known and should be remembered in discussing this tale. Hird and his wife are trying to save their own skins, not the Essendon club, remember that also. This was all on Four Corners last year. Watch that, and then come back and stick up for your 'Lance' Hird.

why? at least he had something new to say and didnt just echo the obvious sentiments everyone else has

<Reply: ive always argued his innocence david, as ive never seen solid proof that he is guilty, ive been howled down on this site for sticking up for Hird, but after the Tania interview i just dont think its ever going to die down, so therefor it may be best for Essendon to put it to bed once an for all. Im sure the powers that be will work it out. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.

<Reply: ive always argued his innocence david, as ive never seen solid proof that he is guilty, ive been howled down on this site for sticking up for Hird, but after the Tania interview i just dont think its ever going to die down, so therefor it may be best for Essendon to put it to bed once an for all. Im sure the powers that be will work it out. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.

Thompson's not coaching next year. Period. Has hird even to be proven to have done anything wrong yet. Can't believe people actually believe what they read in tabliod newspapers. Just wait for the final report then make up your mind. People love kicking things why there down.

<Reply: I personally think Aransan that if Thompson has a good year with Essendon, they would be made not to keep him. Someone will go after him for sure, my tip would be Collingwood. I think Hirds results (depending how you look at it/ cheat or not) coaching have not been that bad, but i think he has to much baggage an maybe its time to let it go to bed. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.

The Essendon Carlton game should give a good reading where both teams are at.

Not too many comments here from Essendon fans. Tania Hird has given a lot of oxygen to the drugs and supplements saga that was dying a natural death. Essendon and Hird did the wrong thing in 2012 but Essendon have paid the price, Hird doesn't seem to be aware that he did anything wrong. If Bomber Thompson has a successful 2014 I don't think many Essendon supporters will be thinking about Hird.

HIs coaching record is 12th, 8th & 8th/ disqualified, and if ASADA hadn't rolled their season off course, maybe his record would be 12th, 8th & 5th with respectable finals showing. That's not too shabby at all. But that's not what happened is it?

Essendon would be silly if they dont at least contemplate Thompson. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.

Ohhhh yes u got that right gene dont forget it now. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.