Essendon great James Hird has spoken publicly for the first time since holding talks with the club in regards to a potential coaching return.
Hird is among at least four candidates for the Bombers vacancy, with Melbourne assistant Adem Yze firming as the favoured option for the Tullamarine club.
Premiership Don Dean Solomon and St Kilda assistant coach Brendon Lade are also seen to be in the running, but it's Hird that has gained the most attention.
The 49-year-old was last enrolled with the club in 2015, the final year of a damning six seasons with his beloved club that ended amid the club's infamous supplements saga.
After a year-long suspension, Hird returned to the top job before resigning from his position by August that year after 19 matches.
His relationship with Essendon was tarnished throughout and following the supplements saga.
But seven years on, Hird has stuck his hand up to return to Essendon as their senior coach following Ben Rutten's sacking at the conclusion of their 2022 campaign.
Hird returned to the AFL landscape with GWS in an advisory role in the pre-season before joining caretaker coach Mark McVeigh's strikeforce after Leon Cameron's mid-season departure.
The 1996 Brownlow Medal winner has revealed his passion and love for the club is what is driving his desire to return to Essendon.
โIโd love to get the job,โ Hird said at a recent luncheon hosted by Prestige Global Events alongside AFL greats Billy Brownless and Wayne Carey.
โI know thereโs been a lot of speculation around whether Iโve done the time or Iโve done the work, but Iโm passionate about the club.
โIโve spent a lot of the last 12 months working in football and basically dedicating myself back to the game, back coaching, back watching the job, back training, spending time overseas with some of the greatest coaches in the world.
โSo if I get the opportunity, it would be amazing. Redemption is a big thing, but for me I just love the Essendon Football Club, itโs been part of my life forever and I think I can make it better.โ
Hird was joined by the aforementioned Yze, Lade and Solomon in the first round of interviews for the coaching vacancy, with Yze touted to have earned a second interview this week.
He revealed that the coaching search committee asked four things: why he is interested, what his vision for the club is, his plan to achieve that and his view on Essendonโs list, perย The Age.ย
Despite being seen as unlikely to land the position, Hird said he might gain "closure" from his recent discussions with the club.
โFor me, to be 100% honest, it was just great to do the interview. Maybe it was closure, but if I do get the job or I donโt get the job, then thatโs a full stop on a saga thatโs been pretty ordinary for all of us.โ
When asked why he had re-opened the door on a potential return to coaching after the trauma he faced with Essendon, Hird said he belonged in the coaches box.
โBecause I actually really like coaching and I think Iโm actually not bad at it. I know thatโs egotistical to say that,โ Hird said.
โThe Essendon Football Club to me, I grew up with it, my grandfather, my father, it was part of who I was and Iโve left it in a place that is unfinished and I genuinely think I can make it better.
โCourage in life is actually having a go at things, no matter if you get them or you donโt. And people are going to knock you down and people are going to smack you but if you donโt have courage in life, what do you have?
โIf I donโt get (the job), theyโll laugh at me. But Iโd rather have a go than die wondering.โ
Essendon are expected to name their new senior coach as early as next week.
