James Hird has put up his hand to coach Essendon and has been interviewed by the Bombers, well-placed industry sources confirmed on Wednesday.
He is in the process along with a number of other candidates. Melbourne assistant Adem Yze is another candidate. Brad Scott has been on the radar but hasn’t put up his hand yet.
James Hird was celebrated at Essendon’s 150th anniversary earlier this year.Credit:AFL Photos
A number of candidates have made themselves unavailable, including Ross Lyon and Leon Cameron, but the club is determined to have a comprehensive process and an open mind about who they select to replace Ben Rutten.
Former NAB chief executive Andrew Thorburn is assisting the panel in the coach search, which is headed by football boss Josh Mahoney. Triple-premiership Hawk Jordan Lewis, former Carlton premiership coach Robert Walls and netball coach Simone McKinnis are also part of the panel, along with club director Dorothy Hisgrove.
Hird has been working part-time as an assistant coach at Greater Western Sydney this year but has been otherwise out of the game since he left Essendon late in 2005, prior to the suspension of 34 players after the supplements scandal.
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