James Hird

Hird is the son of Allan and Margaret Hird. He was born in Canberra, where his father worked in the public service and his mother was a teacher, although they had met in Melbourne.Hird (2006), p.5 Hird has two younger sisters. After first living in the Canberra suburb of Ainslie, his family moved to Latham. When Hird was in high school, the family moved to the suburb of Reid.'Reading the play: on life and leadership' by James Hird (2006), p.10

Hird participated in rugby league,{{Cite news | last = Hird | first = James | title = Why I love the idea of Israel Folau playing footy | work = Herald Sun | place =Australia | publisher = Herald and Weekly Times | date = 7 May 2010 | url = http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/why-i-love-the-idea-of-israel-folau-playing-footy/story-e6frf9jf-1225863348614 | access-date = 8 May 2010}} ballet,{{cite web |last1=Di Pietro |first1=Kavisha |title=MEET THE DUNKLEYS; THE HOUSEHOLD THAT MAKE THINGS WORK |date=28 June 2019 |url=http://www.aflplayers.com.au/article/meet-the-dunkleys-the-household-that-make-things-work/ |publisher=AFL Players Association |access-date=17 October 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Rule |first1=Andrew |title=James Hird – the guy behind the footy great |url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/james-hird-the-guy-behind-the-footy-great/news-story/38292deb5471eb3dc2e9cd5d9e20536f |website=Herald Sun |publisher=News Corp |access-date=17 October 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Cadzow |first1=Jane |title=The Fall |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/the-fall-20140224-33b6a.html |website=The Age |date=28 February 2014 |access-date=17 October 2020}} and soccer in his youth.Hird (2006), p.6–7 He played for the Ainslie Football Club in the ACTAFL, and in June 1990, at the age of 17, he was a member of the league's senior representative team in a match against the Victorian Football Association.{{cite news | title=VFA Cleary the best | work=The Sun News-Pictorial | date=11 June 1990 | author=Buivids, Amanda | page=51 | publication-place=Melbourne, VIC}}

He was recruited to the AFL by Essendon from the 1990 AFL Draft; however, due to a serious hip injury along with other injuries in his junior football career, he was not selected until pick number 79, Essendon's seventh pick and one of the last in the draft.{{Cite web|title=Essendon Football Club Draft History|publisher=Essendon Football Club|url=http://www.essendonfc.com.au/team/drafthistory.asp|access-date=16 March 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211163140/http://essendonfc.com.au/team/drafthistory.asp|archive-date=11 February 2009}} Due to injury, Hird missed out on playing for most of 1991, his first season with the club. At the end of the season, a vote was held on whether to delist him. The majority (4–2) voted in favour of Hird being delisted, but coach Kevin Sheedy, sensing a promising future for the young Hird, voted to keep him. Ultimately, Hird remained with the club. He made his senior debut against St Kilda in 1992 at Waverley Park as a late replacement for former captain Terry Daniher. Hird spent most of the season in the Essendon Reserves, which, under Denis Pagan, won the premiership that season. He achieved regular selection in the Essendon senior team during the 1993 season. In that season, he was a member of what was referred to as the "Baby Bombers", a group of young players (most notably including Hird, Mark Mercuri, Gavin Wanganeen, Dustin Fletcher, Ricky Olarenshaw, David Calthorpe, Paul Hills and Joe Misiti) that played a key role in the side winning the premiership that year. In 1994, Hird won the first of three consecutive best-and-fairest awards, culminating in his 1996 season that earned him a Brownlow Medal.{{cite web|url=https://australianfootball.com/players/player/James%2BHird/13012|title=JAMES HIRD|access-date=17 May 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.essendonfc.com.au/club/history/champions-of-essendon/james-hird|title=James Hird|access-date=17 May 2022}}

A series of injuries restricted Hird's appearances during the remainder of the 1990s. He played only seven games in 1997, and, although he was named captain in 1998 (a position he held until the end of 2005), he was restricted to thirteen games that year due to injury-related issues. An even worse year followed in 1999, with stress fractures in his foot keeping him to only two games.

In 2000, both Hird and the Essendon Football Club experienced the most dominant season in AFL football to date. Injury-free, he received numerous honours, including selection in the All-Australian team and the Norm Smith Medal as best on ground in the AFL Grand Final. The Essendon team also won the Ansett Cup pre-season competition as well as the regular season premiership. The team only lost one game—against the Western Bulldogs—in the entire calendar year.

The year 2002 then saw Hird's worst injury, a horrific facial injury sustained in a match against {{AFL Fre}} when he collided with teammate Mark McVeigh's knee, fracturing several bones; Hird was in hospital for a week and missed several weeks of the season.{{cite news | url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/05/05/1019441459678.html | title=Hird has surgery on facial injuries | work=The Sydney Morning Herald | date=2 May 2002 | access-date=22 March 2009}}

In 2003, despite again missing many games through various injuries (eight games in total), Hird tied with Scott Lucas for the best-and-fairest award. He also narrowly missed out on a second Brownlow Medal, finishing three votes shy of joint winners Mark Ricciuto, Nathan Buckley and Adam Goodes. He gained a place in the 2003 All-Australian team, the fifth and final time in his career.

One of Hird's more memorable performances was in his Round 3 game against West Coast in 2004. Up until three-quarter time, Hird had 19 disposals and one goal; in the final quarter, however, he managed 15 disposals and two decisive goals.{{Cite web|title=James Hird's Winning Goal vs West Coast 2004|publisher=Network Ten| via=YouTube|date=28 October 2006|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUhhHA-AJvc|access-date=16 March 2009}} Despite the incredible effort, and to the consternation of fans, Hird did not receive any Brownlow Medal votes from the umpires for his 34 disposals and clutch goals, which was perceived by some as retribution for his comments earlier in the week against umpire Scott McLaren, for which he was fined $20,000.{{Cite news|title=Judd claims West Coast's first Brownlow|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=21 September 2004|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/09/21/1095651257787.html|access-date=16 March 2009}} Hird's winning goal was the focus of a popular instalment of the Toyota Memorable Moments advertising campaign,{{Cite web|title=James Hird Toyota Commercial|via=YouTube|date=16 January 2007|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUhhHA-AJvc|access-date=16 March 2009}} and the hug is captured in Jamie Cooper's painting the Game That Made Australia, commissioned by the AFL in 2008 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the sport.{{cite web|url=http://www.150years.com.au/150Moments/150MomentsArticle/tabid/11382/Default.aspx?newsId=55972# |title=The Game That Made Australia painting |work=150years.com.au |publisher=Australian Football League |access-date=4 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130419120046/http://www.150years.com.au/150Moments/150MomentsArticle/tabid/11382/Default.aspx?newsId=55972 |archive-date=19 April 2013 |url-status=dead }}

On 27 September 2005, Hird handed the captaincy to Matthew Lloyd following the side's 2005 season in which it missed the finals for the first time since 1997.{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2005-09-27/lloyd-to-lead-bombers/2112816 |title=Lloyd to lead Bombers |date=27 September 2005 |work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=4 September 2014}}

After Lloyd sustained a season-ending hamstring injury in Round 3, 2006, Hird served briefly as acting captain until young ruckman David Hille was named acting captain for the remainder of the 2006 season.{{cite web |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/Sport/Hille-appointed-Essendon-AFL-captain/2006/05/03/1146335789695.html |title=Hille appointed Essendon AFL captain |date=3 May 2006 |website=The Age |access-date=4 September 2014}}

Hird continued to be an outstanding performer in his utility role when fit, but age was forcing him to miss games through injury with increasing frequency. He suffered broken ribs and a calf strain during his 200th and 250th games, respectively.{{cite news|last=Hand|first=Guy|date=11 July 2004|title=Hird in hospital as Lloyd boots nine|work=The Sun-Herald|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/07/10/1089000403996.html}}{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/injuries-reports-spoil-dons-pairs-party/story-e6frf9l6-1111113906976|title=Injuries, reports spoil Dons pair's party|first=Rebecca|last=Williams|work=Herald Sun|date=7 July 2007}}

File:Hird & Sheedy.jpg

Despite much speculation that he would retire at the end of the 2006 season, Hird played out the 2007 season, playing 17 of a possible 22 games. Aged 34, Hird continued to feature prominently among Essendon's best players and concluded his career by winning a fifth best-and-fairest award.

Hird played two farewell games: his final game in Victoria at the Melbourne Cricket Ground against Richmond and his final game overall at Subiaco Oval against West Coast. The games were made higher profile as they were also the final games coached by 27-year coach Kevin Sheedy. Hird was one of the best on field in his final game, with 34 disposals, one shy of his career high. As Hird and Sheedy left the field for the last time, the crowd gave them a standing ovation.{{cite web |url=http://www.perthnow.com.au/eagles-v-essendon-moments-kevin-sheedy-and-james-hird-retire/story-fn6mh93f-1226050002105 |title=Eagles v Essendon moments – Kevin Sheedy and James Hird retire |last1=Papalia |first1=Ben |date=4 May 2011 |website=Perth Now |access-date=4 September 2014}}

Before season 2008, the Archer–Hird Medal was created to honour Hird and former North Melbourne Football Club player and fellow future Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee Glenn Archer. From 2008 until 2013, the medal was awarded to the player showing the most determination, courage and skill in matches between the Kangaroos and the Bombers.{{cite web | url=http://www.kangaroos.com.au/tabid/4912/default.aspx?newsid=55737 | title=Archer-Hird Medal to continue rivalry | work=kangaroos.com.au | publisher=North Melbourne Football Club | access-date=4 September 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224050652/http://www.kangaroos.com.au/tabid/4912/default.aspx?newsid=55737 | archive-date=24 February 2012}}

Immediately after Hird retired from playing football, there was much speculation as to whether he would be interested in a coaching role at a club in the AFL, but primarily at Essendon.{{cite news | url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/tim-watson-offers-james-hird-a-cautionary-tale/story-e6frf9ox-1225907024325 | title=Tim Watson offers James Hird a cautionary tale | work=Herald Sun |publisher=Herald and Weekly Times| date=18 August 2010 | access-date=4 September 2014 | author=Sheahan, Mike | author-link=Mike Sheahan}} After initially dodging questions about his future, Hird stated in August 2010 that "There's something in me, deep in my heart, that says at some point I want to coach Essendon".{{cite news | url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/james-hird-torn-over-essendon/story-e6frf9jf-1225906547007 | title=James Hird torn over Essendson | work=Herald Sun | date=18 August 2010 | access-date=10 September 2014 | author=Robinson, Mark | publisher=Herald and Weekly Times}} These words came as a surprise to many, including former premiership teammate Matthew Lloyd, who said that Hird had "changed his whole persona in regards to how he's answering his questions... Just in regards to saying, 'I'll coach one day. I want to coach Essendon one day'. Even those type of words, I haven't heard before." These comments by Hird, considered to be Essendon's "favourite son", furthered speculation towards the future of then-Essendon coach Matthew Knights.{{cite news| url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/is-hird-getting-keener-on-coaching-20100818-129vj.html | location=Melbourne | work=The Age | title=Is Hird getting keener on coaching? | first=Will | last=Brodie | date=18 August 2010}} A rumour emerged following these comments suggesting that Hird was part of an unofficial agreement with the Essendon board to replace Matthew Knights for the 2011 AFL Season.{{cite news| url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/hird-does-uturn-on-coaching-20100819-12s38.html | location=Melbourne | work=The Age | title=Hird does U-turn on coaching | first=Caroline | last=Wilson | date=20 August 2010}} However, two days after Hird's initial comments, he announced that he had changed his mind due to the intense division and speculation over Matthew Knights' future following Hird's initial comments. Hird stated that he was ruling himself out of coaching Essendon for at least three years.

On 28 September 2010, the rumours were confirmed when Essendon's chief executive officer, Ian Robson, and chairman, David Evans, announced at an official press conference that Hird would be the next senior coach of the Essendon Football Club on a four-year contract.{{cite web|title=James Hird announced as coach|url=https://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/77138/james-hird-announced-as-coach|date=28 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110303124240/http://www.essendonfc.com.au/club/James-Hird-announced-as-coach.asp|archive-date=3 March 2011}}{{cite news|last=Robinson|first=Mark|title=Bombers legend James Hird unveiled as new Essendon coach|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/i-want-to-be-essendon-coach-says-former-skipper-james-hird/news-story/a360ea2d267534a7b31c7893dc6aa21b|access-date=20 April 2022|work=Herald Sun|publisher=Herald and Weekly Times|date=28 September 2010}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/dons-unveil-hird-as-coach-20100928-15ujg.html|title=Dons unveil Hird as coach|date=28 September 2010|access-date=20 April 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-09-28/hird-installed-as-essendon-coach/2276772|title=Hird installed as Essendon coach|website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=28 September 2010|access-date=20 April 2022}}

Hird's coaching career began with the Bombers winning against triple preliminary finalists the {{AFL WB}} in the first round. Wins against {{AFL Stk}}, the {{AFL GC}} (by a record margin of 139 points), {{AFL WC}} and {{AFL BL}} in the first eight rounds saw the Bombers in the top four by round eight, but a draw against {{AFL Car}}, losses to {{AFL Syd}} and {{AFL Col}} and a five-game losing streak halfway through the season saw Essendon drop to tenth on the ladder after Round 14.{{cite web|url=http://afltables.com/afl/seas/2011.html#14|title=2011 Season Scores and Results}} Hird's team then won by four points against the previously undefeated {{AFL Gee}} in Round 15, whom assistant coach Mark Thompson was coaching against for the first time since his exit from the club.{{cite news|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-premiership/essendon-take-on-geelong-in-round-15-of-the-afl-at-etihad-stadium/story-e6frf3e3-1226086180752|title=Essendon Bombers produce the upset of the year, downing Geelong Cats at Etihad Stadium|date=2 July 2011}} Prior to that match, Essendon had one of the worst records among current AFL clubs against Geelong in recent times, having only beaten the club once since 2003. Hird coached Essendon to the 2011 finals, where they lost against rivals {{AFL Car}} in an elimination final at the MCG.{{cite news|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-premiership/carlton-thump-outclassed-essendon-in-afl-elimination-final-at-the-mcg-blues-face-west-coast-next/story-e6frf3e3-1226134200638|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141021130112/http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-premiership/carlton-thump-outclassed-essendon-in-afl-elimination-final-at-the-mcg-blues-face-west-coast-next/story-e6frf3e3-1226134200638|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 October 2014|title=Carlton thump outclassed Essendon in AFL elimination final at the MCG; Blues face West Coast next|first=Greg|last=Buckle|agency=Australian Associated Press|date=11 September 2011}}

At the start of the 2012 season, Essendon won eight of their first nine games (the only loss being by one point to Collingwood on ANZAC Day), at which point Essendon were in first position on the league ladder. The club then won 11 of their first 14 games but this was followed by seven consecutive losses until the end of the season. The club ended 2012 in 11th place. A spate of soft-tissue injuries accompanied the decline, as did noticeable fatigue in other players, leading to criticism of the club's fitness and conditioning coach Dean Robinson and, indirectly, Hird and his assistant Thompson for having overseen Robinson's program.{{cite news|last=Robinson|first=Mark|title=The Hird Locker|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-360s-mark-robinson-explores-the-reasons-behind-essendons-late-season-implosion/story-e6frf33l-1226457130419|access-date=11 April 2013|newspaper=Herald Sun|date=24 August 2012}}

The 2013 season was initially a good one for Hird and the football club, during which the team was second on the AFL ladder with a 13–3 win–loss record after 17 rounds. However, internal pressure on the club finally took its toll on the players and coach when the AFL banned Essendon from participating in the 2013 finals series. The club on-field performances fell away and lost five of their last six games. 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.

Banned from coaching in 2014, Hird spent several months living in France attending an exclusive business school, INSEAD, near Paris.{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/exiled-essendon-coach-james-hird-set-to-embark-on-fourmonth-family-holiday-to-france/story-fni5f6kv-1226852943540|title=Crepes and pomme frites for Hirds|work=Herald Sun|access-date=6 January 2017}} He returned to the club following the 2014 season. Shortly after returning from his suspension, on 2 October 2014, it was reported that Hird was to be sacked by Essendon due to his determination to lodge an appeal against the Federal Court decision handed down the previous month when the club had chosen not to.{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/james-hird-will-be-removed-as-essendon-coach-in-coming-days-20141002-10p3bn.html|title=James Hird will be removed as Essendon coach in coming days|date=2 October 2014|first=Caroline|last=Wilson}}

On 18 August 2015, following a 112-point loss to {{AFL Ade}} in Round 20, 2015—and a dismal season overall for the Essendon Football Club, by which time they had a 5–14 win–loss record and were fifteenth on the AFL ladder—Hird resigned as senior coach.{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-18/james-hird-resigns-as-essendon-coach-as-board-loses-patience/6705920#:~:text=James%20Hird%20has%20resigned%20as,appeared%20at%20the%20press%20conference.|title=James Hird resigns as coach of Essendon Bombers as board loses patience amid dismal AFL results|website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=18 August 2015|access-date=20 April 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/essendon/james-hird-set-to-quit-as-essendon-coach/news-story/fa04db72fceb45a743789936237c9898|title=James Hird gone as Essendon coach, 925 days after doping scandal broke|date=18 August 2015|access-date=20 April 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/57463/end-of-the-road-for-hird-dons-coach-resigns|title=End of the road for Hird: Dons coach resigns|date=18 August 2015|access-date=20 April 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/aug/18/james-hird-to-leave-essendon-football-club-report|title=James Hird resigns as coach of Essendon Football Club|website=TheGuardian.com |date=18 August 2015|access-date=17 May 2022}}

On 17 May 2022, it was announced that Hird would be joining the coaching staff at {{AFL GWS}} as part-time assistant coach for the rest of the 2022 season under GWS caretaker senior coach and his former teammate Mark McVeigh, who replaced Leon Cameron after he resigned as the club's senior coach midway through the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/763210/dons-party-james-hird-dean-solomon-join-giants-coaching-staff|title=Dons party: Hird, Solomon join Giants coaching staff|date=17 May 2022|access-date=17 May 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/teams/greater-western-sydney-giants/afl-news-2022-james-hird-gws-giants-assistant-coach-dean-solomon-mark-mcveigh-interim-who-will-be-their-next-coach/news-story/60be6a09cbe89f4e57afe748c417977d|title=James Hird gets first AFL coaching role since drugs saga as Giants revamp staff after Cameron exit|date=17 May 2022|access-date=17 May 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/afl/story/_/id/33931222/james-hird-dean-solomon-help-gws-giants-afl-coach|title=Hird, Solomon help out GWS' AFL coach|date=17 May 2022|access-date=17 May 2022}} On 2 February 2023, it was announced that Hird left GWS Giants.{{cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/james-hird-has-quietly-left-gws-giants-coaching-return-in-doubt/news-story/fbb00c0eff2726d7aba8d9fb42ed8220|title=James Hird has quietly left GWS Giants, coaching return in doubt|date=2 February 2023|access-date=3 February 2023}}

Hird is currently Director of Coaching at the Port Melbourne Football Club in the Victorian Football League.{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/james-hird-joins-port-melbourne-as-director-of-coaching-after-turning-down-senior-role/news-story/d23d8cad55232c0f18be8d4ffcef60c3 | title=James Hird joins Port Melbourne as director of coaching after turning down senior role |publisher=Herald Sun| access-date=28 October 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240819084156/https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/james-hird-joins-port-melbourne-as-director-of-coaching-after-turning-down-senior-role/news-story/d23d8cad55232c0f18be8d4ffcef60c3?amp&nk=8f551d4777c2a70605d3af49d434e8db-1724056936#selection-763.0-763.86|archive-date=19 August 2024}}

Following Hird's retirement as a player from the Bombers at the end of the 2007 AFL season, he became a commentator and football analyst for Australian rules football on Fox Sports, a position which he held until he began his coaching career at the end of 2010. Hird also became a writer for Melbourne newspaper the Herald Sun. Beginning 2025, Hird formally joined the panel of Footy Classified on the Nine Network.

Hird jointly won the Brownlow Medal with Michael Voss in 1996, the award for the fairest and best player in the Australian Football League. After his retirement, Hird stated that being a member of the "Brownlow Club" was a privilege.{{Cite news|title=Winning Brownlow a privilege|publisher=Fox Sports Australia|date=24 September 2007|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,22469440-23211,00.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121231004250/http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,22469440-23211,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=31 December 2012|access-date=16 March 2009}}

In 1997, the Essendon Football Club named the then-triple best and fairest winner in its Team of the Century on the half-forward flank.{{cite news | url=http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/all_star_teams.htm | title=Essendon Team of the Century | work=Full Points Footy | access-date=16 March 2009| url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110806044747/http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/all_star_teams.htm|archive-date=6 August 2011}}

In 2002, the Essendon Football Club conducted a fan-voted promotion to find the "Champions of Essendon". Hird was eventually named as the number three player on the all-time list of Essendon players.{{Cite news|title=Champions of Essendon|publisher=Essendon Football Club|url=http://www.essendonfc.com.au/history/champions.asp|access-date=16 March 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090303085212/http://essendonfc.com.au/history/champions.asp|archive-date=3 March 2009}}

{{see also|Essendon Football Club supplements saga}}

In April 2013, Hird, as coach, was accused of being personally injected with supplements in 2011 and 2012 that would be deemed performance enhancing if he were a player. Essendon players from 2011 and 2012 were also accused of ingesting performance enhancing supplements. As head coach, Hird was subsequently implicated.{{cite web|last=Greg Denham, Courtney Walsh|title=James Hird's 'green light to supplements'|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/james-hirds-green-light-to-supplements/story-fnca0u4y-1226618605790|work=The Australian|access-date=12 April 2013}}

Following months of rumours and investigations, on 13 August 2013, Hird, along with the Essendon Football Club, senior assistant coach Mark Thompson, football manager Danny Corcoran and club doctor Bruce Reid, was charged by the AFL with bringing the game into disrepute in relation to the poor governance of the supplements program at the club in 2011 and 2012. The club was given 14 days to consider the charges and faced an AFL Commission hearing on 26 August 2013.{{cite news | url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/essendon-supplements-saga-the-story-so-far-20130811-2rq1t.html | title=Essendon supplements saga: The story so far | work=The Age | date=13 August 2013 | access-date=10 September 2014 | archive-date=19 August 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819203904/http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/essendon-supplements-saga-the-story-so-far-20130811-2rq1t.html | url-status=dead }}{{cite news | url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afls-statement-20130813-2rudo.html | title=AFL's statement | work=The Age | date=13 August 2013 | access-date=10 September 2014 }}

On 27 August 2013, following much negotiation, Hird accepted charges that he had brought the game into disrepute and abandoned possible Supreme Court action against the AFL and its chief executive, Andrew Demetriou. He maintained that he did little wrong, but said he should have known more about the club's supplements program. He was banned from working at any AFL club in any capacity for twelve months commencing from 25 August 2013.{{cite news | url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/essendon-booted-from-finals-fined-2-million-james-hird-banned-for-12-months/story-fni5ezdm-1226704614233 | title=Essendon booted from finals, fined $2 million, James Hird banned for 12 months | work=Herald Sun |publisher=Herald and Weekly Times| date=28 August 2013 | agency=Australian Associated Press | access-date=4 September 2014 | last1=Minear|first1=Tom|last2=Ralph|first2=Jon}} Hird was allowed to attend Essendon matches as a spectator during this period. However, despite not being allowed to pay him for working as a coach during 2014, the club paid Hird $1 million in advance for 2014 in December 2013.{{cite news | url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/james-hird-will-be-paid-his-1-million-annual-salary-in-a-lump-sum/story-fni5f6kv-1226782811551 | title=James Hird will be paid his $1 million annual salary in a lump sum | work=Herald Sun | date=13 December 2013 | access-date=4 September 2014 | last1=Warner|first1=Michael|last2=Crawford|first2=Carly | publisher=Herald and Weekly Times}}

A media report on 3 October 2013 said that Hird denied pleading guilty for a reduced charge as alleged by Demetriou. Hird's lawyer, Steven Amendola, asserted that the AFL withdrew all charges against Hird under the deeds of settlement that he and the club signed with the AFL. At the time of the media report, Hird was considering legal action against both the AFL and Demetriou.{{cite news | url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/james-hird-eyes-action-over-andrew-demetriou-guilt-claim/story-fnca0u4y-1226731908835?from=public_rss&net_sub_uid=44933799# | title=James Hird eyes action over Andrew Demetriou guilt claim | date=3 October 2013 | access-date=3 October 2013 | author=Adam Shand | newspaper=The Australian}}

Essendon chairman Paul Little said that Hird would be wanted as the senior coach once his suspension was served and that he had been offered a two-year extension from 2015, which would have seen him coaching until the end of the 2016 season. However, Hird resigned after round 20 in August 2015, near the end of the season, with the team near the bottom of the ladder.

Hird married Tania Poynton on 11 October 1997. Around the time of the marriage, Poynton was working as a lawyer at legal firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth where she remained until 2002.{{cite news |last1=Carlyon |first1=P. |title=The real Tania Hird revealed |url=https://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/the-real-tania-hird-revealed/news-story/9ba1a5a5de60e0820326366d9daac575 |access-date=3 January 2025 |publisher=Nationwide News Pty Ltd |date=22 March 2014}} The couple have since separated.{{Cite news |last=Epstein |first=Jackie |date=2025-01-13 |title=Essendon legend James Hird splits from wife Tania after 27 years of marriage |url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment%2Fconfidential%2Fessendon-legend-james-hird-splits-from-wife-tania-after-27-years-of-marriage%2Fnews-story%2F6cde7a135aee39bda6109647d9de3b11 |url-access=subscription |access-date=2025-01-14 |work=Herald Sun}} Hird shares four children with Tania: a daughter and three sons. One of his sons, Thomas Hird, was signed as a category B rookie at Essendon in 2019{{Cite web |title=Tom Hird {{!}} AFL |url=https://www.essendonfc.com.au/players/4008/tom-hird |access-date=2022-08-04 |website=essendonfc.com.au |language=en}} and was delisted by Essendon in 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/829226/son-of-a-gun-tom-hird-among-three-bombers-axed|title=Son of a gun among three Bombers axed|work=AFL|date=23 August 2022 |access-date=28 October 2024}} Tom Hird now plays for the Port Melbourne Football Club in the Victorian Football League.{{cite web|url=https://www.portmelbournefc.com.au/teams/vfl/l|title=VFL Our Players|work=Port Melbourne Football Club|date=28 October 2024 |access-date=28 October 2024}}

Hird's paternal grandfather, the late Allan Hird, Sr., was a notable player for and president of the Essendon Football Club, and his father, Allan Hird, Jr., had a brief playing career with Essendon.

Hird completed a bachelor's degree in civil engineering in 1998 and worked in that capacity as a consultant on the CityLink project.{{Cite web|title=James Hird RMIT Alumni Profile|publisher=RMIT University|url=https://www.alumni.rmit.edu.au/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=467|access-date=16 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090930122455/https://www.alumni.rmit.edu.au/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=467 |archive-date=30 September 2009}} He has also spent time working for a stockbroking firm and is an active partner in Gemba,{{Cite web|title=Gemba Corporate Site|publisher=Gemba|url=http://www.gemba.com.au/|access-date=16 March 2009}} a sports marketing and media consultancy firm based in Melbourne. He is the founder and managing director of Euree Asset Management, where he currently works.{{Cite web|title=James Hird|publisher=Euree Asset Management|url=https://www.eureeassetmanagement.com/our-team/james-hird/|access-date=28 October 2024}}

On 5 January 2017, Hird was taken to a private hospital following a drug overdose and suspected suicide attempt and was subsequently transferred to a specialist mental health care facility for further care and treatment.{{cite web|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/james-hird-in-care-after-drug-overdose/news-story/a4a3f11c6c546fe62a3c6147e558e3b9|title=James Hird in care after 'drug overdose'|work=The Australian|access-date=6 January 2017}}

On 28 November 2018, Hird was hit by a car when cycling in Richmond.{{cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/james-hird-hit-by-car-in-melbourne-s-inner-city-20181128-p50iye.html|title=James Hird hit by car while cycling in Richmond|work=The Age|date=28 November 2018 |access-date=28 November 2018}}

{{Australian rules football statistics legend|p=y|b=y}}

{{AFL player statistics start with votes}}

|-

| 1991 || {{AFL Ess}} || 49

| 0 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || 0

|-

| 1992 || {{AFL Ess}} || 49

| 4 || 5 || 5 || 45 || 24 || 69 || 29 || 2 || 1.2 || 1.2 || 11.2 || 6.0 || 17.2 || 7.2 || 0.5 || 0

|-

| bgcolor=F0E68C | 1993^# || {{AFL Ess}} || 5

| 16 || 31 || 20 || 174 || 88 || 262 || 89 || 16 || 1.9 || 1.2 || 10.9 || 5.5 || 16.4 || 5.6 || 1.0 || 6

|-

| 1994 || {{AFL Ess}} || 5

| 20 || 27 || 17 || 224 || 155 || 379 || 143 || 31 || 1.4 || 0.8 || 11.2 || 7.8 || 19.0 || 7.2 || 1.6 || 6

|-

| 1995 || {{AFL Ess}} || 5

| 24 || 47 || 31 || 254 || 201 || 455 || 177 || 25 || 2.0 || 1.3 || 10.6 || 8.4 || 19.0 || 7.4 || 1.0 || 7

|-

| 1996 || {{AFL Ess}} || 5

| 24 || 39 || 39 || 330 || 237 || 567 || 175 || 34 || 1.6 || 1.6 || 13.8 || 9.9 || 23.6 || 7.3 || 1.4 || bgcolor=98FB98 | 21^±

|-

| 1997 || {{AFL Ess}} || 5

| 7 || 31 || 18 || 75 || 47 || 122 || 31 || 11 || 2.6 || 1.3 || 10.7 || 6.7 || 17.4 || 4.4 || 1.6 || 3

|-

| 1998 || {{AFL Ess}} || 5

| 13 || 19 || 19 || 159 || 89 || 248 || 73 || 24 || 1.5 || 1.5 || 12.2 || 6.8 || 19.1 || 5.6 || 1.8 || 4

|-

| 1999 || {{AFL Ess}} || 5

| 2 || 1 || 2 || 19 || 11 || 30 || 5 || 3 || 0.5 || 1.0 || 9.5 || 5.5 || 15.0 || 2.5 || 1.5 || 0

|-

| bgcolor=F0E68C | 2000^# || {{AFL Ess}} || 5

| 20 || 36 || 18 || 294 || 145 || 439 || 115 || 41 || 1.8 || 0.9 || 14.7 || 7.2 || 22.0 || 5.8 || 2.0 || 16

|-

| 2001 || {{AFL Ess}} || 5

| 22 || 27 || 17 || 266 || 134 || 400 || 109 || 45 || 1.2 || 0.8 || 12.1 || 6.1 || 18.2 || 5.0 || 2.0 || 5

|-

| 2002 || {{AFL Ess}} || 5

| 16 || 11 || 9 || 232 || 104 || 336 || 84 || 29 || 0.7 || 0.6 || 14.5 || 6.5 || 21.0 || 5.2 || 1.8 || 7

|-

| 2003 || {{AFL Ess}} || 5

| 18 || 13 || 11 || 279 || 117 || 396 || 77 || 44 || 0.7 || 0.6 || 15.5 || 6.5 || 22.0 || 4.3 || 2.4 || 19

|-

| 2004 || {{AFL Ess}} || 5

| 20 || 25 || 14 || 307 || 114 || 421 || 103 || 40 || 1.2 || 0.7 || 15.4 || 5.7 || 21.0 || 5.2 || 2.0 || 9

|-

| 2005 || {{AFL Ess}} || 5

| 17 || 17 || 8 || 234 || 80 || 314 || 78 || 36 || 1.0 || 0.5 || 13.8 || 4.7 || 18.5 || 4.6 || 2.1 || 8

|-

| 2006 || {{AFL Ess}} || 5

| 13 || 19 || 9 || 172 || 93 || 265 || 86 || 20 || 1.5 || 0.7 || 13.2 || 7.2 || 20.4 || 6.6 || 1.5 || 5

|-

| 2007 || {{AFL Ess}} || 5

| 17 || 8 || 6 || 278 || 94 || 372 || 109 || 38 || 0.5 || 0.4 || 16.4 || 5.5 || 21.9 || 6.4 || 2.2 || 9

|- class=sortbottom

! colspan=3 | Career{{cite web|title=James Hird (playing statistics)|url=https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/J/James_Hird.html|work=AFL Tables|access-date=6 January 2017}}

! 253 !! 343 !! 234 !! 3342 !! 1733 !! 5075 !! 1483 !! 439 !! 1.4 !! 0.9 !! 13.2 !! 6.8 !! 20.1 !! 5.9 !! 1.7 !! 125

|}

{{Australian rules football coaching legend|f=y}}

{{Australian rules football coaching start}}

|-

| 2011 || {{AFL Ess}}

| 23 || 11 || 11 || 1 || 50.0% || bgcolor=CAE1FF | 8^† || 17 || 8

|-

| 2012 || {{AFL Ess}}

| 22 || 11 || 11 || 0 || 50.0% || 11 || 18 || —

|-

| 2013 || {{AFL Ess}}

| 21 || 14 || 7 || 0 || 66.7% || 9 || 18 || —

|-

| 2015 || {{AFL Ess}}

| 19 || 5 || 14 || 0 || 26.3% || 15 || 18 || —

|- class=sortbottom

! colspan=2 | Career{{cite web|title=James Hird (coaching statistics)|url=https://afltables.com/afl/stats/coaches/James_Hird.html|work=AFL Tables|access-date=18 June 2020}}

! 85 !! 41 !! 43 !! 1 !! 48.8% !! colspan=3 |

|}

Team

• 2× AFL premiership player ({{AFL Ess}}): 1993, 2000 (c)
• 4× McClelland Trophy ({{AFL Ess}}): 1993, 1999, 2000, 2001

Individual

• Australian Football Hall of Fame (inducted 2011)
• Essendon Football Club Team of the Century (half-forward flank)
• Champions of Essendon: no. 3
• Essendon captain: 1998–2005
• Norm Smith Medal: 2000
• Brownlow Medal: 1996
• Australian Football Media Association Player of the Year: 1996
• 5× All-Australian team: 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2003
• 5× Crichton Medal: 1994, 1995, 1996, 2003, 2007
• 2× Essendon leading goalkicker: 1995, 1996
• Jim Stynes Medal: 2000
• 2× Australia representative honours in international rules football: 2000 (c), 2004
• 3× Anzac Medal: 2000, 2003, 2004
• Yiooken Award: 2007
• AFL Rising Star nominee: 1993

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{Cite book| first=James |last=Hird | year=2006 |publisher=Pan Macmillan Australia |isbn= 978-1-4050-3764-8 |title=Reading the play: on life and leadership/James Hird}}

• [https://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/cth/FCA/2014/1090.html Hird v Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (9 October 2014)] [2014] FCA 1090
• [https://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/cth/FCAFC/2015/7.html Hird v Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (includes Summary) (30 January 2015)] [2015] FCAFC 7
• [https://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/vic/VSC/2016/174.html Hird v Chubb Insurance Company of Australia Ltd (3 May 2016)] [2016] VSC 174
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110406201528/http://www.essendonfc.com.au/team/coach.asp?id=18 Hird's official coaching profile on Essendonfc.com.au]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110226165150/http://www.essendonfc.com.au/team/player-past.asp?id=448#profile Hird's past player's profile on Essendonfc.com.au]
• {{AFL Tables|ref=J/James_Hird.html}}

{{1993 Essendon premiership players}}

{{2000 Essendon premiership players}}

{{Essendon Football Club captains}}

{{Essendon Football Club coaches}}

{{AFL Brownlow Medallists}}

{{Norm Smith Medal}}

{{Essendon Team of The Century}}

{{W. S. Crichton Medal}}

{{Essendon leading goalkickers}}

{{AFL Anzac Medal}}

{{All-Australian captains}}

{{1995 All-Australian team}}

{{1996 All-Australian team}}

{{2000 All-Australian team}}

{{2001 All-Australian team}}

{{2003 All-Australian team}}

{{Yiooken Award}}

{{Australian Football Media Association Player of the Year}}

{{1993 AFL Rising Star nominees}}

{{Jim Stynes Medal}}

{{1993 New South Wales-Australian Capital Territory Australian rules football State of Origin players}}

{{2000 Australian international rules team}}

{{2004 Australian international rules team}}

{{Australia international rules football team captains}}

{{1990 AFL national draft}}

{{Essendon supplements saga}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hird, James}}

Category:1973 births

Category:Living people

Category:All-Australians (AFL)

Category:Brownlow Medal winners

Category:Champions of Essendon

Category:Essendon Football Club coaches

Category:Essendon Football Club players

Category:Essendon Football Club premiership players

Category:Norm Smith Medal winners

Category:Crichton Medal winners

Category:Ainslie Football Club players

Category:RMIT University alumni

Category:Sportspeople from Canberra

Category:Sportspeople from the Australian Capital Territory

Category:Australian rules footballers from the Australian Capital Territory

Category:Australian Football Hall of Fame inductees

Category:Australia international rules football team players

Category:VFL/AFL premiership players

Category:20th-century Australian sportsmen

Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen