http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/hird-to-coach-bombers/story-e6frf9jf-1225930046780

All but confirmed? Worst kept secret.....will be an interesting 'On the Couch' tonight though?!

Edited September 27, 201015 yr by Demonator

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/hird-to-coach-bombers/story-e6frf9jf-1225930046780

unnecessary risk by Hird imo.

He should have taken a few years to learn how to coach, do an apprenticeship under someone, and he'd be guaranteed a coaching position in a few years. Wouldn't want to fail, be sacked in 2-4 years and be tainted forever more.

Still, he's hugely popular, a much loved son of Essendon, and they will automatically get 15,000 more members next year as a result, and probably 5-10,000 more at every game. Bomber supporters are obsessed with the great man.

unnecessary risk by Hird imo.

He should have taken a few years to learn how to coach, do an apprenticeship under someone, and he'd be guaranteed a coaching position in a few years. Wouldn't want to fail, be sacked in 2-4 years and be tainted forever more.

Still, he's hugely popular, a much loved son of Essendon, and they will automatically get 15,000 more members next year as a result, and probably 5-10,000 more at every game. Bomber supporters are obsessed with the great man.

No matter what happens, I dont think the faithful would turn on him.

hope he does to essendon what voss has done to brisbane!!!

hope he does to essendon what voss has done to brisbane!!!

Interesting to note.....do you think the members and board would have turned on the coach in Brisbane if it wasn't Voss? So much loved by everyone up here and seems like he could possibly be getting away with a bit?! Could be similar if things go pear shaped at Essendon?!

I hope he fails as hard as Knights.

Good luck to them. I'd let Gary Lyon walk straight into our coaching job if he was interested.

Good luck to them. I'd let Gary Lyon walk straight into our coaching job if he was interested.

Maybe big Jim should have coached - he's proved that he can do everything else?!

A very risky move by Hird....Still think essendon are in desperate mode. If Hird fails it's going to be great to watch.

Timmy Watson's opinion will be interesting tomorrow morning.

A very risky move by Hird....Still think essendon are in desperate mode. If Hird fails it's going to be great to watch.

Timmy Watson's opinion will be interesting tomorrow morning.

Yes, an unexperienced Timmy failed badly at St Kilda and eventually but honourably fell on his sword. James Hird is taking a huge risk in coaching. But at least he will have a few high profile assistants to take the rap for him for a few seasons at least if he starts failing.

Edited September 27, 201015 yr by america de cali

As the saying goes- do the crime, do the time. This is a grave mistake by both Essendon and Hird which will affect both drammatically and cost them valuable time to come back up the ladder.They not only need an experienced senior coach or an experienced assistant-they need players.

Yes, an unexperienced Timmy failed badly at St Kilda and eventually but honourably fell on his sword. James Hird is taking a huge risk in coaching. But at least he will have a few high profile assistants to take the rap for him for a few seasons at least if he starts failing.

Who are his assistants?? Do we know yet?

Has the job and financial security to overhaul this list

Who are his assistants?? Do we know yet?

According to the papers, Mark Williams, uberthug Dean Wallis and Simon Goodwin may be the ones.

Reminds me of a movie ... Dumb and Dumber !!! Doesnt matter who's who .. Same result !!! Foolish for both ... Bring it on :)l

Essendon had no choice but to employ a favourite son. The club was tearing itself apart. This could end very badly and I for one hope it does.

There's a fair bit of wishful thinking going on on this thread, with everyone assuming he can't coach. He might fail spectacularly, but it's hardly a fait accompli. We don't even know where he sees the list or what sort of game plan he wants to implement. Having said that, you definitely get the feeling theres a cultural problem at Essendon with the coterie group calling the shots. Even if they get this right, and Hird ends up being a good coach, it looks like they'll be right for the wrong reasons.

There's a fair bit of wishful thinking going on on this thread, with everyone assuming he can't coach. He might fail spectacularly, but it's hardly a fait accompli. We don't even know where he sees the list or what sort of game plan he wants to implement. Having said that, you definitely get the feeling theres a cultural problem at Essendon with the coterie group calling the shots. Even if they get this right, and Hird ends up being a good coach, it looks like they'll be right for the wrong reasons.

He might indeed be the Messiah, but if I were an Essendon fan I would be crapping myself. There doesn't seem to be a lot of science in this decision.

He might indeed be the Messiah, but if I were an Essendon fan I would be crapping myself. There doesn't seem to be a lot of science in this decision.

man id hate to be rebuilding now

New sponsor for Ess ... Muppets Inc !! Boy have they hit the panic button ( Sheeds must be shaking head but laughing his ass off !!

I read that Gary Lyon said that if you are 99% certain that you want to coach AFL then thats no where near good enough attitude to coach. And credit to him for looking beyond his own ego. Once good coaches were self made and worked hard to obtain their credentials from the bottom up. Some former champions and others ex hacks or in-between. These days we have the likes of Buckley, Voss and now it appears James Hird who have been bludging in the media and now expect to walk into the top job as a natural right because of their past deeds without any proof that they are competent to do the job. If these guys were fair dinkum about being coaches they would have stuck their necks out and made it known as soon as they retired that they wanted to coach and done the hard yards to be true 100 percenters.

Edited September 27, 201015 yr by america de cali

IMO a few financially influential people seem to be pulling strings the same as they did to get rid of Knights

Money can bring power but it cant guarantee success

Not many better players i have seen in an essendon jumper but the problem is he isn't playing

Would like to see him do well but i cant help but feel for the next generation of coaches like Richardson , Hinkley

Sanderson , Scott and Co when they have done the hard yards within the system only to be overlooked in favor of a former club legend

Then there is Gerald Fitzgerald as a wild card and more experienced that all of the above

Interesting Times

If I was Richardson Id tell them all to get....... What does Hird know about coaching ??? sorry that was a trick question !!

I, for one, think it might be a success, because Hird is

1. not an idiot (Knights),

2. not an ego maniac (Voss)

If he surrounds himself with a good team, who can work as a team (I'd have thought that leaves Williams out), it could be a winner.

Ed: Essendon desperately needs a club icon involved, just as the MFC needed Jim.

Edited September 27, 201015 yr by Mono