The Hird name is returning to Bomber land!
Essendon have announced the signing of Tom Hird on a two-year deal as a category B rookie.
Tom, the son of Essendon great James Hird, had previously pursued a career in soccer where he had the opportunity for a trial in the Netherlands before ultimately opting to sign with the Bombers after training with the club last year.
"We have been following him closely in the event he chose to return to football from elite soccer and pleasingly for our club, he has come to that decision," list manager Adrian Dodoro told the club website.
"He is an athletic young sportsman with natural talent, but we will be taking a patient approach with his development as he begins to build his strength.
"We're thrilled to have Tom join the red and black and watch him develop as a player over the coming years."
James Hird has been distant from the club since his departure as senior coach in 2015 after the supplement saga that had a heavy toll on the Bombers.
James is known within the Bombers as one of the club's greatest ever players after an illustrious career which saw him captain the Bombers to a premiership in 2000 and also won a Brownlow and Norm Smith medal in his time too.
Tom is the fourth generation of the Hird family at the Bombers, following the footsteps of his father James, grandfather Allan and great grandfather Allan Snr, who had a grandstand at Essendon's Windy Hill headquarters named after him.
