Former Essendon coach James Hird nearly fell off his couch when he heard of a report linking him to a return to his former club.
Veteran journalist Caroline Wilson revealed that Hird could return to the Bombers, after spending 16 years as a player, and then four as a coach with the club, which was abruptly ended by the infamous supplements saga.
Wilson said on Channel 7's The Agenda Setters that former Essendon chairman Paul Little is still vouching for the 52-year-old's return to Tullamarine.
"We can reveal that Paul Little, the former chairman of the Essendon Football Club, and very generous benefactor of the Essendon Football Club, who was there as chairman during 2013, โ14, and โ15 โ those acrimonious days โ has not ruled out, in fact has left the door very much open, to a return to the Essendon board," Wilson said on Monday night.
"A return that, in my view, would include James Hird as coach.
"All year, this story has been festering. Kevin Sheedy, who left the board, (and) Adrian Dodoro, who left the club in really highly acrimonious circumstances โ there have been barbs from both at various people at the club.
"But we had started to hear, after the club had re-signed Brad Scott until the end of 2027, that there was some unrest from some of the old guard who weren't happy about the re-signing, didn't think it was necessary.
"My belief is that James Hird still harbours an ambition to coach Essendon."
Could James Hird return to coach the Bombers? pic.twitter.com/g2w1hXDiVr
โ 7AFL (@7AFL) May 19, 2025
"My belief is that James still harbours an ambition to coach Essendon. I am absolutely convinced of that."
Immediately hearing of the report, Hird disclosed a statement to Channel 9's Footy Classified, saying he hadn't spoken to Little.
"It's news to me, and I haven't spoken to Paul Little for months. I nearly fell off the couch when I heard it," Hird said.
The Brownlow medallist currently holds a position as director of coaching at VFL club Port Melbourne.
The Borough also have other Essendon names at the club, with Dyson Heppell joining old teammates Jayden Davey, Kaine Baldwin, Tex Wanganeen and Hird's son Tom.
Current Essendon coach Brad Scott was quizzed on the Hird links to the job at his weekly press conference.
"I don't react at all," Scott said.
"I can't control that. The risk in any of that is it distracts me from the task at hand. I've been really overwhelmed with the level of support and follow-through, and really the things that were the non-negotiables when I came to the club.
"Things like stability, and support for all levels of the football club. Our board and executives have delivered on those things.
"I need to focus on my job, and let all the other stuff go on in the background, and not let it distract me."
