The football public knows, and has known now for a long time, that James Hird cannot continue as coach of the Essendon. Yet on Sunday night the board released a statement declaring Hird remains the coach of the club.
Why, when it is so clear to the average punter that Hird has to go, has the club has dug its heels deep into the ground?
The issue is complex no doubt.
ASADA and the Federal Government deserve blame for this. They are the ones who created this highly emotional and difficult atmosphere. Their press conference in February last year was exaggerated, melodramatic and ultimately counterproductive.
The public expected grand revelations of cheating. The reality was slightly tamer, but no less serious.
Essendon ran a supplements programme. Its own internal investigation was highly critical of the programme ran. It was poorly documented, poorly organised, and poorly monitored.
The players have been placed in the intolerable position of facing bans by ASADA. More seriously, the club is not in a position to clarify exactly what it is the players took. Forget about the legality, was it safe?
If the first role of a coach is to achieve success for their football club, their second is to protect their players. On this count Hird and the Essendon Football Club have failed miserably. The club’s duty of care to its players has been fundamentally breached. The CEO is gone, the chairman is gone, and the coach must now go.
By continuing to fight on, Hird has allowed his once ‘golden boy’ reputation to be destroyed. The football public now sees him as selfish, unwilling to acknowledge his mistakes, or offer an apology. Perhaps had he offered these concessions from the start, we would be more forgiving.
He, and for the most part Essendon, have behaved as if this all a grand conspiracy against them. As if the AFL managed to convince ASADA and the Federal Government to launch this inquiry simply in order to remove Hird from his position as coach.
It is irrational, illogical and wrong.
Even when Essendon challenged the legality of the investigation, the court found against them. Hird is challenging, claiming that it is in the best interests of the club and the players. One has to wonder how it is?
In the NRL, Cronulla cooperated to a greater extent than Essendon and the investigation is over. The players missed three games. It was a joke that angered the footballing public, but it was great for the players. Shane Flanagan is on the verge of being returned to his position as coach. That is what Essendon should be working towards.
But it continues to drag on.
It has cost Essendon millions. Fines, pay-outs, legal fees. A weaker club would have been destroyed by it.
The club has to move on from this. Mark Thompson is the man to take them there. He is a two-time premiership winning coach who has re-discovered his passion for coaching. They have a playing group that should be pushing for a top-four finish. But their last two seasons have essentially been wasted by this ASADA investigation.
They have to move on, the AFL wants to move on, and so do the other clubs.
So how is it that James Hird remains the coach of Essendon when he so obviously shouldn’t be?
Mikey
Guest
Graeme - you seem to base your defence of Hird around your belief other clubs are drug cheats but have gotten away with it. Not sure what facts you are basing that on but are you really saying that this is a valid argument for ignoring what happened at the EFC? Like if someone gets charged with robbing a bank are you saying a legitimate defence would be - "Other people have robbed banks and gotten away with it so why are you picking on me??" You said: "Its acceptable that they were reckless in many ways but not one bit of truth that any player was administered with anything the was illegal" Firstly Graeme - it is not acceptable that they were reckless in many ways. In fact it beggars belief that - in this era where clubs micro-manage players from everything they eat to the multitude of data they have on players body performance - they ran a supplements programme and didn't keep accurate records about who was injected with what and when. From that point on the players were always going to be under suspicion and ASADA now appear to have evidence of TB4 being purchased out of China in sufficient quantities to inject a footy team. That looks like your bit of truth there Graeme. Can't argue with your comments about Doc Reid - he did win. But there are many - including members of the medical profession - who believe he has been very lucky. His letter to Hird acknowledged that he was being marginalised and was not approving everything that was being injected. He should have resigned at that point for his own professional integrity if nothing else.
graeme
Guest
James Hird tried and convicted by the media and Bomber haters. They suspended the ST. Kilda player for drinking a pick me up drink. Big deal if they had the proof they actually need they would have done what they are talking about 18 months ago. Obviously Essendon ran a very poorly organised and recorded supplement system...Its acceptable that they were reckless in many ways but not one bit of truth that any player was administered with anything the was illegal. Doc Reid stood on his digs and would not accept the AFL threats.. He won Why do we have to accept that this AFL group of hypocrites are to believed or are always right. Why did Demetrio jump ship 6 months early?? Now Sydney are being threatened by the league if they approach uncontracted players they will lose there extra cost of living allowance. Everything in the AFL is knee jerk because they do not set up anything tight enough within there laws. Have a look how West coast won there flags way back, all of a sudden 19-22 year old skinny bodies turned into iron men with unbelievable stamina??? Remember when two very well know AFL players bought that out in the open they were vilified. I suppose the AFL turned a blind eye because it was good that an interstate side won the flag.. And did any of that generation of players from the West have issues with drugs???? James Hird thank you for having the B---s for not bending to this pack of hypocrites and going the distance. It's funny that our current CEO of the league and his brother run a sports management style of business, maybe a conflict of business !!! Is Dometrio involved in this company as well ??? Thank you Jimmy Heard. Go the distance
Macca
Guest
Classic Don - avoid the ball at all costs and go straight for the man.
Kev
Guest
Don - Typical response from someone who knows that they don't have a leg to stand on but continues to dig a hole for themselves. Everything you've posted here is just the typical naive and blinkered view that Hird supporter's have and when called out on it, you resort to incorrectly taking the higher moral ground along with name calling. If you were capable of posting a well thought out reply you actually wouldn't need to call comments feral. I said Hird wasn't capable of coaching and the best response you could come up with was "A choice between football people who know the game and dribbling, feral opinions like yours…it’s not hard to see who knows their stuff." You didn't argue the point you played the man "Try lightening up a bit…you might find that footy discussion doesn’t have to be so bitter." - Says the person calling someone else's comments feral because they you don't agree with them. None of this changes the fact that clubs need to treat appointing former player's as coaches far more seriously than they do now. I can't help but think that they are chasing a spike in membership numbers by using someone who as popular as a player. Hird was appointed off the back of not just no coaching experience, but not even a stint as an assistant, but some like you continue to hold this incorrect belief that playing performance is enough because Hird showed "outstanding leadership" which is ironic given the position Essendon have been in over the past 2 years. If performance as a player was enough to qualify one for a role as a senior coach, then someone like Alastair Clarkson shouldn't be as successful given that he didn't have a noteworthy career as a player.
Don Freo
Guest
You know, Kev, if my estimation of your contributions trouble you, you could always try being less feral with your comments. An alternative is to not care at all what I say...but when Macca starts defending you, you might be a little concerned about those with whom your comments resonate. Try lightening up a bit...you might find that footy discussion doesn't have to be so bitter.
Kev
Guest
"BTW, you don’t see me defending him at all. You see me resisting the tall poppy syndrome and urging patience with the process." - Right, you're not defending him. Just calling opposing comments feral and "close minded" but no you're definitely not defending him. You're just lazily dismissing counter arguments with ad hominem remarks because you are so concerned about defeating tall poppy syndrome but no you're not defending him. The only thing worse than a rabid, naive and ignorant Hird supporter is someone who claims that they aren't supporting him when the opposite is actually the truth. Everyone can patently see where your loyalties lie based on your comments even if you are too one-eyed to.
Macca
Guest
Kev - Don't worry abot Don - he thinks anyone who doesn't agree with his opinions doesn't know anything about football and he is happy to chip others about "abuse" or playing the man but is happy to dish it out. And DOn you are doing far more than resisting the tall poppy syndrome, you have repeatedly indicated that you believe Hird has done nothing wrong, that is defending not calling for patience with the process.
Kev
Guest
Don Freo - Calling opposing views "feral" and saying that those who write that "don't know anything about football" does nothing but demonstrate that your argument is on thin ice to start with. If that wasn't the case you would actually be capable of posting a counter argument that had more substance than that. What makes me think he doesn't qualify? Because playing and coaching are two different disciplines. Being a great player doesn't mean you will be a great coach and this "outstanding leadership" you keep carrying on about, where was that when Hird was coach of Essendon? If his leadership was that brilliant, Essendon wouldn't be in this position.
Steve Bates
Roar Rookie
Agree 100%
Don Freo
Guest
What makes you think Hird doesn't qualify? He has shown outstanding leadership all his career. He has an outstanding football mind. It's why he was appointed. A choice between football people who know the game and dribbling, feral opinions like yours...it's not hard to see who knows their stuff. BTW, you don't see me defending him at all. You see me resisting the tall poppy syndrome and urging patience with the process.
Aransan
Guest
Macca, it was always likely that Hardingham was going to leave the Bombers and he was out of contract. The likely loss of Winderlich is of far greater concern as he was a passionate supporter who was lucky to be able to play for his team.
Kev
Guest
"That makes no sense Kev. You are just making a manic grumble because you don’t like him." No I'm making a manic grumble because people like you continue to make excuses for Hird even though as senior coach the buck stops with him but then again, that's been par for the course for Hird's fan's like yourself. Whether the system was stuffed or not is irrelevant. Hird as senior coach has significant clout and if he allowed Robinson and Dank to work and act in a questionable manner, then it's on Hird's head. The excuse that "he didn't know" or that they went behind his back isn't good enough. "It’s as if you are saying that anyone who begins work in a profession for the first time is likely to bring the whole company down so, therefore, any club that employs anyone who hasn’t got experience deserves to fail." This remark is just as stupid and just as poorly thought out as the rest of your post. If you want to hire someone for a position as significant as senior coach despite the fact that they have no experience, then yes you deserve all that you get when things go pear shaped. This isn't some entry level position. This person has to manage 40 odd players, backroom staff, the expectations of a board plus members. Hird had no business being appointed as senior coach when the sum total of his experience was a great playing career and this mess that Essendon have been in for the past 2 years is proof of that.
Macca
Guest
Rumour has it Kyle Hardingham wants out of the bombers and Crameri has hired Rob Stary to represent him in the ASADA case and is looking to fast track him case.
Aransan
Guest
Prof, I don't believe Hird is a good match day coach -- he seems to me to be too emotional and is slow to react. That is not an essential quality for a coach if they are aware of this deficiency and have people around them who can give prompt advice which is welcome to the coach.
Macca
Guest
"What makes you think he was the orchestrator?" Lets think, maybe because he was the head coach, or maybe becasue he had a relationship with Charters, or maybe because of the text messages trying to ensure Reid was sidelined. "It seems that anyone who takes a position on this just stops thinking and becomes increasingly belligerent with more vehement opinions. It’ll all play out." Just you Don,
Bobbo7
Guest
He is the head coach. It is part of his job to ensure the football department is run properly, that players are not taking illegal substances and ensure things are above board.
Bobbo7
Guest
None in particular. I have a soft spot for North Melbourne, the Bulldogs and Richmond but I am not a massive AFL fan as such - I go to a couple of random games a year and watch a bit on TV. I have no previous issue with EFC at all. Infact my first ever game was Essendon v North Melbourne in 2001 - that really good game when EFC came back and won. The issue I have with all of this is that I am a sports fan and I would hate to see a world where all players are made into lab rats. The issue is that EFC seem to think that anyone who has an issue with what has happened at EFC is some type of enemy. Again, pre this drugs saga I had no issue with EFC or Hird at all - if anything, I would normally go for Essendon is I was watching a random game, given they were one of the first team I saw live.
Professor Rosseforp
Guest
On point (ix) -- the "good of the club" is a nice theoretical point, but the fact is Hird is in an employment relationship of some kind with the club, and probably has financial commitments like the rest of us. He has to think of his ongoing future, and presumably has legal advice that he has some possibility of success in his challenges. "The good of the club" can -- I'm not saying it is in this case -- can often be trotted out to save other people from involvement. Next thing there will be executives saying "Let's move forward", trying to cover up the whole stinking mess. P.S. if Hird succeeds, I hope he celebrates with a decent haircut :-)
Professor Rosseforp
Guest
All things are rarely equal, but which things are you specifically pointing to that point to deficits in Hird's coaching ability -- and if people think he IS th best, are they automatically "not in their right mind"?
Me Too
Guest
Mark could you answer one question. Just exactly why is it that Essendon have no records of what they have injected their players with?