In a shock development reported by the Herald Sun, Essendon great James Hird is being pursued for a senior coaching comeback by one of Victoria's most storied football clubs, Port Melbourne.
The VFL club is reportedly eyeing Hird as their top candidate to fill the coaching position set to be vacated at the end of this season.
Standing coach, Adam Skrobalak recently announced his departure, revealing plans to relocate with his family to Queensland, setting the stage for what could be the most controversial and topical coaching appointment in the history of reserves football, bringing the Bomber legend back into the coaching fold for the first time in nearly a decade.
Hird, a legendary figure in Australian rules football, boasts a decorated playing career with Essendon, where he won the 1996 Brownlow Medal and secured a place in the Australian Football Hall of Fame.
His coaching tenure, however, was marred by the infamous supplements scandal in 2013, which led to his suspension and eventual resignation from Essendon in 2015. This wounds from this saga almost broke the club beyond repair.
Each player involved was slapped with a full season suspension and the Bombers are still yet to win a final in over 20 years - a streak that may have ended if not for the severe penalties they faced from 2013 onwards.
If the move materialises, it would mark Hird's first senior coaching role since leaving Essendon, though some may forget he was an assistant under Leon Cameron for GWS in 2022 and opted not to apply for the coaching vacancy that off-season out of loyalty to teammate and friend Mark McVeigh.
The appointment at Port Melbourne would also create a unique family dynamic, as Hird's son, Tom, currently plays for the Borough. Tom Hird, 23, has become a key player for the team, averaging 19.3 disposals this year and polling three coaches' votes in a recent victory over Geelong.
Port Melbourne, celebrating its 150th year, has faced a challenging season, sitting outside the finals race after a disappointing loss to Coburg. Despite a strong recruiting drive, the team's performance has been inconsistent, putting pressure on Skrobalak, who took over from Gary Ayres in 2022.
“I have loved my time at the Borough and I am proud of the work that has been done,'' the outgoing coach said in a club statement on Tuesday night.
“I feel we have put a program in place that is built around professional standards and player development and will certainly help the group going forward.''
The potential appointment of Hird could bring renewed vigour to the club, but notably, may be Hird's gateway back into the AFL's senior coaching ranks.
Port Melbourne football director Toby Pinwill expressed gratitude for Skrobalak's contributions and indicated that the search for a new coach is already underway.
“Adam will always be part of the Borough family and we thank him for his hard work and dedication over the past three seasons. We wish Adam and his family all the best,” Pinwill said.
"An announcement will be made in due course''.
As Port Melbourne prepares to make an official announcement, the footy world will be watching closely to see if the iconic club can secure one of the game's most intriguing figures for the 2025 season.