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Essendon coach James Hird has been the most talked about Australian sporting figure in the last two years, despite not being in the country for one of them.
Some depictions of Hird present an unscrupulous character with no regard for anyone but himself; a selfish man who put a platoon of footballers at risk to win a flag.
This doesn’t sit well with the majority of Essendon supporters, as it is not the James Hird they know and love.
The James Hird that supporters remember is a heroic and highly skilled player who was picked up by Essendon at pick #79 in the 1990 draft.
Hird quickly created a reputation for being having a cool heads under pressure. Occasionally throughout his career the frustration would show, but with the ball in play, Hird appeared to be completely relaxed.
However, supporters will always remember Hird’s dying-seconds snap goal against West Coast in 2004, which resulted in one supporter getting the most unexpected surprise he will ever have.
The flow of emotion followed what was at the time one of the hardest times in James Hird’s illustrious career. He was known as a player of the highest integrity, always showing respect for this teammates and opponents.
Fast forward to 2013 when the scandal first broke, and James Hird once again managed to show his on-field cool, but in a different fashion.
With Hird’s reputation in tatters, many facets of the media and football community would rather he never returned. It was alleged that Hird was negligent with the men who put their trust in him. To rub salt in that wound, all attempts to clear the players from their charges were seen to be selfish attempts to be acquitted on a technicality rather than face the charges. It was a case of damned if you do, damned if you don’t.
Despite the issues surrounding the club and intense media speculation, the majority of Essendon supporters backed Hird. A member of popular forum bomberblitz co-ordinated a “#standbyhird” campaign which trended on Twitter, saw thousands of placards handed out at a game, and many players contributing.
Social media was rife with support groups, hash tags and Facebook pages defending Hird. Instead of feeling like he had let their beloved club down, the supporters were quick to defend Hird, and memberships reached record heights.
In 2014 James Hird went to France to study business administration after being exiled by the AFL for 12 months for his involvement in the supplements scandal. His planned return once again sparked controversy, as did his decision to appeal the Federal Court’s ruling into the legality of the ASADA investigation, directly opposing the decision of the club. Once again, the wider community and large components of the media were quick to criticise Hird, and once again Essendon supporters rallied around him.
So we have two prevalent and very distinct views on who James Hird is. So who is James Hird? Why have supporters continued to hold him in hero status despite the issues surrounding the club? The answer lies in Hird himself, showcased by the way he goes about his business.
Throughout 2013, with the media camped at his doorstep, unable to even take his children to school without having to field questions, he kept his composure. As if he was kicking from the boundary in the dying seconds of a close game, Hird answered questions with honesty, integrity and respect.
Throughout the 2013 season Hird was clearly very passionate about coaching the team to wins, wearing his heart on his sleeve during close encounters, like the Round 3 upset over Fremantle. For a cool and collected man, Hird was always able to show us who he truly was when the pressure was lifted, donning his trademark grin as he congratulated the players and fellow game-day staff.
The morning after the AFL-imposed sanctions were handed down, a video went live on YouTube and Essendon’s club web site, clearly filmed in the living room at the Hird residence. What was shown was a tired and disappointed Hird, profusely apologising for what occurred at Essendon in 2012.
Hird stated “I should have known more [about the supplements program]” in a heartfelt three-minute apology, ending with a final apology for not continuing to fight. To Hird, this battle was synonymous with a game of football, where he repeatedly showed that he would not stop fighting until the final siren sounded.
Despite conceding this battle, Hird later assured supporters that the war was not over.
“I’ve been an Essendon supporter since I was born, it is part of my family. I don’t think I could ever step away from the Essendon football club,” he said.
“It’s part of who I am. It is part of who I’ll always be so I’ve got no intention of stepping away.
“When you love the Essendon footy club and it is part of your heart, you never step away.”
While his battle against the AFL has ended, his battle to elevate the Essendon Football Club back to the height of its glory days is ongoing.
Supporters see James Hird as a man who clearly knows what he wants and has a plan to get it. He isn’t without fault, conceding his own failures throughout 2012, but then who is perfect?
While there are opinions varying to each extreme regarding who James Hird is, supporters see Hird as a fighter who vehemently stands up for what he believes in.
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