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James Hird's coaching career at Essendon: Key moments
The Roar
18th August, 2015
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The Roar
18th August, 2015
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James Hird’s tumultuous coaching career at Essendon has come to an end after announcing he and the club would part ways in a press conference today.

After a remarkable playing career at the club, Hird was billed as the great white hope of Windy Hill when he took the reigns for the 2011 season.

But a lone finals appearance and a devastating supplements saga meant his time at the helm will forever be characterised as one of great initial hope then rabid controversy and eventual disappointment.

Timeline of James Hird’s coaching career at Essendon

September 28, 2010: Essendon CEO Ian Robson announces Hird will succeed Matthew Knights as senior coach. The Bombers finished the 2010 season a disappointing 14th place – managing just 7 wins and 15 losses.

“Why do I want to coach? Because this is the greatest football club in the world,” Hird said.

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September 11, 2011: Essendon lose their elimination final 149-87 to Carlton. In his first year as coach, the Dons finished the regular season in eighth place that included a 139-point win against the Gold Coast Suns.

September 1, 2012: Collingwood defeat Essendon, 104-72 in the final round of the season – handing the Bombers their seventh straight loss.

It was a staggering fall from grace for Essendon, who won eight of their first nine games to sit atop the AFL ladder.

Hird faced criticism over the management of his players’ conditioning with a spate of injuries and obvious fatigue towards the back-end of the season.

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February 7, 2013: Minister for Justice, Jason Clare and Minister for Sport, Kate Lundy announce the Australian Crime Commission’s findings. Essendon under Hird was reported to have been one of the clubs identified as using prohibited substances.

ASADA launches their investigation.

August 12, 2013: James Hird charged by the Australian Football League over duty-of-care breaches regarding Essendon’s supplement program. Specifically, the administering of the banned peptide Thymosin beta-4 during the 2012 season.

August 27, 2013: The AFL hands down a 12-month suspension for James Hird, a four-month suspension for football operations manager Danny Corcoran and a $30’000 fine for assistant coach Mark Thompson.

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The club immediately announce they will stand by Hird, and will be reinstate him as coach after his suspension is served.

Mark Thompson steps up as senior coach in his absence.

October 5, 2014: Essendon decide to retain Hird as senior coach after his decision to defy the board and appeal a Federal Court verdict vindicating the legality of the ASADA-AFL investigation.

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March 31 2015: The AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal find all 34 Essendon players not guilty of using a banned supplement during the 2012 season.

ASADA decided to not appeal the findings, however WADA announced on May 11 that they will appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

August 18, 2015: James Hird resigns as coach of the Essendon Bombers. It followed a disappointing season, with Essendon languishing in 15th place at the time of his departure and losing 171-59 to the Adelaide Crows on the preceding Saturday.

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