Essendon great James Hird has been rushed to hospital after becoming sick on the set of Channel Nine's Footy Classified on Tuesday night.
Hird was fulfilling his regular commitments as a panellist on the football talk show when he became bothered by “a piece of dinner stuck in his throat”.
Concerned viewers could hear Hird coughing during the opening segments of the show and it's understood he left the studio during the first ad break to vomit.
Despite clearly being in distress, Hird pushed through to complete his on-air commitments before later heading to hospital for treatment.
It is understood Hird is recovering after the frightening on-air incident.
Before he headed for the hospital, the Bombers champion urged Carlton to search for an experienced coach to replace Michael Voss.
Hird named John Longmire and Ken Hinkley as suitable options to take the Blues forward.
"I think they should be looking for a coach who is the best fit for Carlton, and I think that is someone with experience in the industry but also willing to do the hard yards, not just with the team but also with the football club," he said.
"Carlton, similar to Collingwood and Essendon, is a beast in its own right. But it is a very, very special beast that you need a very, very special person to coach.
"I think it suits a more experienced person because of all the external factors that come around Carlton are bigger than most other clubs."
