Former Essendon senior coach James Hird is understood to be on the move after departing from his role as an assistant coach with GWS.
Hird linked up with the New South Wales side prior to the departure of coach Leon Cameron in May last year, with Hird's ex-teammate and Giants assistant Mark McVeigh stepping into the caretaker role in the wake of the coaching change.
Calling on trusted friends, McVeigh bolstered his coaches box with the appointments of Hird and fellow ex-Bomber Dean Solomon.
Hird took on an expanded role for the Giants after already serving in an advisory role early last year. Solomon added further coaching experience to the struggling club after previously holding a role with Gold Coast.
Come the end of the home and away season, where the Giants had amassed just six wins, both Hird and Solomon had been linked to the vacant Essendon coaching position.
Much to the displeasure of legendary Bombers coach and current board member Kevin Sheedy, Hird was overlooked for the job, ending any chance of a potential return to the club where he served as senior coach for four years and played 253 games, including two premierships.
While Solomon has since taken on a coaching role with the Tweed Coast Tigers, Hird is set to follow him in cutting ties with GWS, however a future in coaching is unclear.
According toย CODE Sports,ย the 1996 Brownlow medallist will pursue business interests outside of football.
His decision to depart GWS adds to further change in Sydney's west, with the Giants having welcomed their third full-time senior coach in their history.
Former Richmond assistant Adam Kinsgley edged out the likes of McVeigh and Adem Yze to land the role, following in the footsteps of both Sheedy and Cameron to lead the AFL's youngest club.
Both McVeigh and Cameron have linked up with cross-town rivals Sydney ahead of the 2023 season,ย with the pair understood to have joined the Swans' Academy hierarchy.
The Swans and Giants have seen further personnel swap clubs this off-season, with VFL coaches Damian Truslove and Jeremy Laidler also heading to their close rivals with new roles.
Truslove will lead the Swans' VFL outfit after serving in the countering role at the Giants, while Laidler has been appointed to an assistant coaching role at GWS.
Former Port Adelaide assistant Brett Montgomery has also linked up with ex-teammate Kinglsey as an assistant for 2023.
The Giants will open their 2023 campaign against Adelaide at GIANTS Stadium on Sunday, March 19.
