Essendon star Zach Merrett reportedly told a finals luncheon he did not believe James Hird should coach the club again.
The Herald Sun reports Merrett, speaking at the Women in Insolvency and Restructuring Victoria Footy Finals Luncheon last Friday, said he couldn’t see Hird returning to the club as senior coach.
Merrett, a three-time best and fairest winner, said the club would make it work if Hird was to succeed in his application for the role, but noted it was not his preferred choice.
Watch every blockbuster AFL match until the Grand Final Live & Ad-Break Free In-Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
Hird was one of four candidates to be interviewed for the vacant coaching job this week, along with Melbourne assistant coach Adem Yze, St Kilda assistant coach Brendon Lade and former Essendon premiership player and experienced assistant coach Dean Solomon.
There has been a myriad of views on Hird’s potential return to the Bombers – the club he left midway through the 2015 season amid the fallout from the supplements saga.
Essendon is now looking for its third full-time coach since Hird’s exit, while significant change has occurred at board level.
Hird went into detail about his mental health struggles in the wake of the saga in a podcast released earlier this month.
The Herald Sun’s chief football reporter Mark Robinson revealed this week Hird had interviewed for the position and felt ready and willing to return to the senior coaching ranks.
