James Hird has been welcomed back to the AFL in an official capacity, with an invitation to present the Norm Smith medal on grand final day.
Hird was a player whose outrageous talent was matched only by his courage. As a coach, the size of his ego was matched only by his stupidity.
Hird’s stellar career achieved almost every possible pinnacle – premierships, including one as a captain, best and fairests, All-Australians, Anzac medals, a Brownlow, a Norm Smith, Essendon team of the century, AFL Hall of Fame.
He was a player of immense skill, flair and heart, and was one of that very special breed that was not only consistently great, but also a big game and big moment player. In the crunch seconds, he invariably delivered.
Hird’s coaching career was the antithesis of his playing days. No premierships, no winning finals, no glory of any kind. Of course, the black cloud of the drugs saga hung over his 2013 and 2015 seasons, with a suspension for 2014 in between.
Rarely has a fall from grace been from so dramatic. It wasn’t swift, but it was brutal.
Photo: Will Russell
The reactions to the Hird story when it was broken on social media were as predictable as they were vitriolic. Disgraceful. Pathetic. Laughable.
Hird put a target on himself with his behaviour throughout the drugs saga, appearing to lack grace, humility and any idea that he was culpable of wrong-doing. He was combative rather than apologetic. From the outside, it looked like Hird was all about himself, with the affected players under his care an afterthought, if that.
After being a much-loved player, he became a much-despised public figure.
But, James Hird the player won the Norm Smith medal in 2000. Just as Shannon Grant the player won it in 1999. Before him, Andrew McLeod the player won it in 1997 and 1998. Glenn Archer the player won it in 1996.
Grant, McLeod and Archer have sequentially presented the Norm Smith medal to the winners over the last three seasons. The AFL started a tradition whereby the previous winners would have the honour. Hird is next in line. Shaun Hart will be asked to do it next year.
Hird has served his penalties. His crime was one of governance, and the failure to insist on protocols that could have prevented a rogue agent like Stephen Dank going off the reservation. His greatest crimes were probably inexperience, trust and pride. They say the latter comes before a fall. He fell alright.
The price Hird has had to pay has gone well beyond his crimes. However misguided you think he was at various points of his coaching tenure and beyond, he is still a human being; a father, a husband, a son.
Hird was always going to be welcomed back to the AFL fold in some capacity. Presenting the Norm Smith medal, an honour earned as a player, is as good a starting point as any.
Paul D
Roar Guru
It took you 5 days to come up with that? You don't need to tell anyone you're a Collingwood supporter you know. Yes, I did an IQ test at high school, and another at university. Along with a bunch of other people. At the time I was curious more than anything else. I have held off from wall-mounting the certificate. I must say there does seem an awful lot of interest in my intelligent quotient from people who profess to be utterly disinterested in my writings.
Peter the Scribe
Guest
and yet to choose to do an IQ test which is indeed a third party validation?
Thinking man
Guest
Ok then! Umm, sounds like you your doing it tough and doing a good job of who you are! I apologise and take take Paul d.look after yourself buddy! Just understand ther are also people doing it as tough as you! Some of these people are on the end of your diatribes!! Respect for all!!!
Paul D
Roar Guru
I rate myself highly because I know it for a fact, I'm intelligent, well spoken and easily able to conduct myself in discussions win public. This is reinforced to me every day at work and in life - I'm the guy in the office who gets all the tough phone calls, the abusive escalations, the tricky number crunching problems - my nickname is rainman because of my photographic recall and elephantine memory, and my boss only the other day remarked I've got the best manner she's ever seen in handling difficult people. So yeah, I know I'm damn good mate. I also have lived enough and am old enough to have heard all sorts of slurs and abuse about my sexuality, politics and views from all kinds of people. So don't for a moment think anything you say can actually wound me. It's a nice try on your part, and I'm glad you finally felt courageous enough to dip a toe in the waters of debate, but I'm sorry to disappoint you in saying that nothing you or anyone else can say is going to stop me conducting myself however I like on this place. Ultimately internet discussion forums are just a sandbox, where people can do whatever they want, kick electronic sand in the faces of people and no-one cares. The great secret is that I use this place as an outlet for all my jerk tendencies and frustrations and as a result I find myself being calmer and more relaxed in my real life, where words and actions actually have consequences. You people are just little names on a page that I use as scratching posts. The only two I actually know in real life are AD and The Bush and frankly that's fine by me, the only one I'd want to add to that list is Rick. Sorry to disappoint, but again, much love for taking a number and getting in line to abuse me. It's tremendous fun, isn't it. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.
Deep Thinker
Guest
Sure. He's copped a lot. And so he should have. This is a guy who was one of the chief architects in one of the worst examples of systematic doping of players I can remember in any sport. He not only put the players at risk but potentially also their children for decades to come. Not to mention the damage he inflicted on their careers. This is still a very raw issue. It is one thing to forgive him if he has made real strides to fess up and repair the very human damage that he has caused - the ball is in his court to make the case that he has done that. It is another thing to place him in a ceremonial ribbon cutting role as a representative of everything that is great in the game.
Thinking man
Guest
Sorry Paul D. You don't know me but I know you, I lurk on here now and again but dont really contribute because of hostile unintelligent wannabe who views are the only ones, therefore they can't discuss "without a sledge hammer" approach. will tell you who I think you are! A man who rates himself highly and his self importance because he posts a thousands times on a sporting forum...also needs to tell people how smart he is...your the guy who dishes it out but can't handle it back and will come back here to see what I have written because this is the attention that you need, who can't get in a discussion without throwing his toys out of the cot if anyone actually dares questions him....but lives for the conflict!!! Actually your the quitensential internet hero/bully and a clone to 99% of people on the web these days...but your smarter and different right? that's who I think you are!!!
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
its going to happen again. And on grand final day,.
Paul D
Roar Guru
I reckon he's saying "34 players not as bad as Goodes - disagree - it's 34 players welfare vs 1 person so it's worse" Which is in itself a breathtaking display of ignorance, because an Aboriginal man getting booed for showing pride in his race impacts hundreds of thousands of indigenous people in this country.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Sorry, who are you? Apart from someone who has to call themselves "thinking man" because otherwise people would assume from their posts they're an unthinking dullard?
Thinking man
Guest
That's something Donald Trump would say after another twitter fail!!!
bobburra
Guest
I don't understand your comment. Are you saying that booing Goodes is/was worse than 34 players being injected with unknown substances? Please clarify.
JD
Guest
34 players getting injected with substances of dubious origin that may or may not have been approved for human use at the time is not as bad as booing Goodes, we have 34 players welfare versus 1 persons. That is worse by a significant degree
JD
Guest
Are you sure the tradition was established well before Essendon saga - I can only find that the tradition started 3/4 years ago, if its different please show me where.
JD
Guest
I disagree about it been horrific. If I am a parent of one of the 34 players I would be livid that he would even be offered this honor. What this is not respecting is players and parents, they should first be consulted, whether they are happy with this. The AFL supporters don't like cheating, which his team did, how much he new or didnt is irrelevant, we/us are not guilty OK with us. How we/us supporters deal with this is up to the individual, if some (which I do not partake in) wish to express there displeasure through booing, it is OK. That is how they demonstrate that. This to me is way to soon and I believe the AFL has totally misjudged the resentment still to the behaviours over an extended period which dragged this out longer than it needed to be.
Paul D
Roar Guru
I must say I never get tired of people trying to surmise my state of mind from words on the internet
Sammy the Tank
Guest
Wow Paul D..hitting people with a sledge hammer to get your point across? You must have one big ego there champ if you think people really care what you say....good luck with that faceless internet guy!!!
Thinking man
Guest
Paud..why so hostile?
Thinking man
Guest
PaulD. Why so angry all the time?
Thinking man
Guest
Paul D? Why so angry all the time?...
Aaron
Guest
It's unfortunate that whoever wins the Norm Smith will probably be the sideshow, and will have to cop booing for no reason.