Essendon great James Hird has emphatically denied any pursuit in returning to the AFL coaching scene after reports indicated there was movement that he wanted to return to the hot seat.
Taking his post in Tuesday's Footy Classified on Channel 9, Hird categorically refuted the potential of his return to the Bombers in a coaching capacity, declaring that the narrative is "concerning" for his life away from football.
"No, I don't," Hird said of his desire to coach Essendon.
"I have a business that is taking a lot of my time, and it's actually quite concerning when reports like that come on air.
"I had calls all day today from my investors saying, ‘What are you doing? Why are you entertaining this?'
"He has no idea."
James Hird fires back over claims he is part of a plot to return as Essendon coach, and responds to Kane Cornes' comments.#9FootyClassified | Watch on Nine & 9Now 🖥️ pic.twitter.com/pTW3bUEAX6
— Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) May 20, 2025
"It damages my business, I haven't got ambitions (to coach). I'm loving what I'm doing with my son down at Port Melbourne, and that's the extent of it.
"It's a little bit concerning that every time there's a story, I'm the one that's focused (on).
"I don't want to coach at Essendon.
"Brad Scott is the best man for the job, and I, for one, support him."
Scott, who is contracted until the end of 2027 at Tullamarine, sat next to Hird in Tuesday's panel, felt for Hird, who is consistently embroiled in media coverage surrounding his future.
"A lot of people were asking what was happening and clearly the club were put in a position where they've got to respond to these sorts of things," Scott said.
"Clearly, it's a story, and people have a great interest in it. From my perspective, James didn't ask for any of this, and James hasn't spoken about this.
"I would find it very hard in James' position to answer questions about what other people think he's going to do."
Morris added that former Bombers chairman Paul Little had "no appetite" to overthrow current president David Barham.
Essendon sits precariously just outside the top eight with a positive win-loss record (5-4), but with the fourth worst percentage in the competition (82.6 per cent), sitting above West Coast, Richmond and North Melbourne.
They will get their chance to rectify their poor Round 10 performance against the Western Bulldogs with a marquee clash on Friday night.
The annual Dreamtime at the G between the Bombers and Tigers will descend onto the home of football.
