James Hird has revealed that some relationships with people at the Essendon Football Club have been repaired during the coaching process that began in May.
Hird missed out on the senior coaching role, with former teammate and great mate Mark McVeigh officially unveiled on Monday as the winner.
Despite missing out on the role, the club champion and Brownlow Medallist alluded to the positives by simply going through the journey.
"Some bridges have been mended through the process," Hird said on Footy Classified.
"Through the ASADA saga that we sort of headbutted and fought, I've come back together with them.
"A lot of those things have come together. A lot of positives have gone on through this process, but time to get behind Mark and the football club and go forward."
Detractors of Hird used the ASADA saga as a reason why he shouldn't get the role.
Another reason considered was his lack of coaching experience in the past decade when compared to McVeigh and fellow candidates Jaymie Graham and Murray Davis.
Hird is wanted back at the club in a different capacity, with president Andrew Welsh hoping he can get the old Essendon band back together, potentially including Matthew Lloyd in a development role.
Hird was quizzed about whether he feels like an Essendon person more so than he did when he first coached the club; he said: "Yeah, I do.
"And what I want to say is to the Essendon fans who have reached out, whether it be on social media or down the street, who have come up and said good luck and sent me a message: thank you. It does mean a lot.
"Six weeks, eight weeks ago, when I said, 'If I'm the best person for the job and I go through the process, I'd love to do it. I meant that honestly. I obviously wasn't the best person for the job.
"But everyone has come and said congratulations and good luck. Thank you so much."
Hird has also revealed he will return Welsh's call but admitted he wanted to give McVeigh and the Bombers clear air during the appointment on Tuesday, noting his busy schedule.
