James Hird

Who is James Hird?

James Albert Hird is a former professional Australian rules footballer, and was the coach of the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League until being suspended for a year in August 2013.

Hird played as a midfielder and half forward, but was often given free rein by former Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy to play wherever he thought necessary. Hird is a highly decorated footballer including being the winner of the 1996 Brownlow Medal, and a member of the AFL Hall of Fame. In 2008, he was listed by journalist Mike Sheahan as one of the top 50 players of all time in the AFL commissioned book, The Australian Game of Football.

Hird was appointed as the coach of Essendon in September 2010. In August 2013 he was suspended from coaching for 12 months when he was charged by the AFL with conduct prejudicing the game in relation to his role in the Essendon Football Club supplements controversy.