Legendary coach Kevin Sheedy has suggested that James Hird is keen to return to the AFL as a senior coach six years after resigning from Essendon in the wake of the supplements scandal.

In an interview with 7 News, Sheedy discussed the 49-year-old's future in the game as he begins his new role as a part-time leadership consultant at the Giants.

"Hird will be really thinking about 'do I go?' and if he's going to go he's got to go now," he said.

When asked if returning to a senior coaching position was something that Hird was interested in, Sheedy responded candidly.

"I believe so. I'll leave it at that," he said.

Sheedy's comments come just days after Herald Sun lead football writer Mark Robinson stated that he believed Hird had his eyes on a senior coaching position while speaking on Fox Footy. 

“Leon Cameron, he’s looking OK for a while, but I reckon they employed their next coach about a month ago: James Hird,” Robinson said.

“James Hird’s not getting back into football to be a part-time leadership person. James Hird wants to coach AFL football again.

“That’s not a scoop, that’s my opinion. They’ve got a ready-made coach when Leon Cameron’s ready to go, they’ve got a person there who I think will put his hand up.”

James Hird joins Greater Western Sydney (Source: GWS Giants)

The two time Brownlow Medallist hasn't worked at an AFL club since his resignation from the Bombers but spoke to GWS players last year in an informal role before formally joining the club in 2022.

Robinson believes that should the Giants fail to perform in 2022, Hird looms as a suitable replacement for the senior coach role.

“Away from the fishbowl of Melbourne, up in Sydney. GWS, he’s got his team.

“Leon Cameron’s coaching really really well, he deserves to coach this year and maybe for a couple more years from what he did last year.

“But if it hits the fan, they’ve got a person there.

“He’s got a desire to coach, trust me.”