Ummm…we gave that up too.
JAMES Hird’s tenure at Essendon had an end date about the time of last year’s best-and-fairest count. It was not a matter of if, but when. It was a tumultuous time, Hird being back from France and Mark Thompson in the coach’s chair, and the Bombers were conflicted.Chairman Paul Little moved to sack Hird the day after the count when “Bomber” was thought to be in prime position to keep the job, but Little missed his mark. But that didn’t stop him trying. Two days later, on Saturday, October 4, Little rang Hird and offered Hird money to walk away from the club. We’re not talking Little’s ashtray money, either. We’re talking in the vicinity of $3 million-plus. Again, Hird said no. It wasn’t about the money, it was about looking after the players, about what he believed was right and wrong, about how he believed the AFL had railroaded Essendon and himself and how he believed the players would have nothing to answer.
He wanted the truth to be known and he would never stop fighting for the truth. Call him delusional, ego-driven and narcissistic, but add to that resilient. Even the most vociferous Hird haters would admit he had balls.
Hird caved in on Tuesday for the first time since this wretched affair began in February 2013. And he caved in because the Bombers caved in on him. Not the players, mind you, some of whom were fighting tears at Tuesday’s press conference and were said to be devastated by the club’s decisions. The board made this happen, so it’s difficult to accept the narrative that Hird resigned and wasn’t sacked. As late as Sunday afternoon, Hird told confidants he would not to be stepping down. Things were moving, but he still believed the board understood the mindset of the players and how it was affecting their performances.
Little said on Tuesday he and Hird met four weeks ago to discuss the future. Just two weeks ago, however, Bombers chief executive Xavier Campbell said this: “James is contracted next year and James will coach the club next year. 100 per cent. I can’t see anything else changing between now and then.’’ What changed was two heavy losses, and Little and the board decided the club could not move on with the coach.
Let’s be honest: the AFL would be delighted to see the back of Hird. At a recent club chief executives’ conference with the AFL, Campbell was told by the AFL that Essendon’s best chance of recovery was to cut Hird adrift. Campbell confirmed the conversation to Hird. The AFL didn’t instruct Campbell to sack Hird, but believed it to be in the club’s best interests that the club move on without him. The AFL would now be satisfied. It got what it wanted without having to fire the bullet.
Commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick had already asked Hird why he hadn’t resigned; former chief executive Andrew Demetriou would be disappointed he didn’t see Hird gone before he left; and current chief executive Gillon McLachlan, who had barely spoken to Hird since replacing Demetriou, won’t lose a minute’s sleep.
The board — the same board that had pleaded with Hird to take a year’s suspension covering the 2014 season, for the good of the club — turned on him. Make no mistake: if the board had stuck by him, Hird would still be coach. In the end, he ran out of allies.
The club he’s known since he was knee-high to a grasshopper, where his grandfather and father played, where he was a champion and a Brownlow medallist and a premiership captain, cut him adrift. The Bombers are a laughing stock on the field and will be accused of being the same off it.
Remember the golden ticket? Hird and Thompson arrived together, their beaming smiles on offer in the cockpit of the World War II fighter plane. Five years later, Thompson hates the club and Hird hates football. Since 2011, the club has paid Matthew Knights for 2011-2012, when he didn’t coach, and now they have paid Hird close to $2 million to not coach in 2014 and 2016.
Anyone looking for a reason to run a ticket against those in charge? Opinion on Hird was divided on Tuesday, but the majority appeared to believe the club had made the right decision; that something had to give; that a circuit-breaker was needed; that, ultimately, Hird had to be held responsible for what happened in 2012. The board agreed. It’s a pity they couldn’t wait for the WADA appeal to be over — and won — to be that circuit-breaker.
Little is a good man. He took the role when David Evans couldn’t do it and made an enormous contribution. But if there’s a criticism, it’s that Little could swing in the breeze. He would fight the AFL, and then stop. He would appeal to the Federal Court, and then stop. He would give Hird two years’ extension, then end it after just one.
He marched Hird out not because of recent results, but for the continued fallout from the ASADA-AFL-WADA investigation, which Hird could never really let go. After the Round 15 win over Melbourne, the headlines were on Hird’s comments about individuals at the AFL. The Bombers told him to cool it. He did. But even without Hird’s creating noise, the pressure built and built. Tuesday won’t be a circuit-breaker. It will be the start of a civil war, in which fans will turn on the club, fans will support the club, the board will be probably in the gun, and players will ask themselves: Why should I stay here? And God only knows who will coach the club.
As for Hird, the dream is over. He was party to a supplements program which brought the club and by the end, his football career, to its knees. He will miss the players and the buzz of footy. But in return, he will get back a family and a sense of normality. In the quiet times, he might think that was a good swap.
blockquote>Hird had a one way love affair with the EFC but; when it counted they betrayed him not once but several times. Tarred with the Judas like the parent company the AFL. The club like the AFL has no moral compass or ethics. Anyone who honestly believe the EFC cares about the players is delusional. They are using them the same way they used Hird. Anyone who is expecting different behaviour, from a club who gets rid of one man who is responsible for ALL their problems and suddenly, thinks just a Spiritual Revival - a born again belief will suddenly take place and all will be well. Good luck with that.
I am a plant.We’ve known that for a while.Many posts displayed the IQ of one.
You’ve got to be at least impressed that a plant can type
Why isn’t the media calling for buckley’s job?
Oh yeah, cause no one would dare touch mcquire or Collingwood.
I am a plant.
We’ve known that for a while.Many posts displayed the IQ of one.
Well Andrew put your total faith in the Board and wear a bullet proof vest.There are a lot of people at Essendon crying tonight, this is like a death in the family, I don't know if the club will come back from this and that's not being dramatic. I'm hearing their are some very sad people tonight and big men are crying.And for those who are naïve, James was SACKED.
Even if this is true, what’s the point of pushing it? James has stepped up and given a press conference to try and hold the club together. He realizes he’s not bigger than the club, why can’t you? We need solidarity.
And Egan! What the actual ■■■■!?Now that really is a joke and shows just how out of touch the Board really are.
I would like to congratulate James for showing his class to the end,I like many others feel totally flattened by today's unjust decision. Had the board listened to James in the first place I do not believe we would be in this position now. I hope no matter what James has his day when ever that may be. To James & his family take care you will all-ways be respected & admired by myself & family. As for the Essendon board hang your heads in shame.May they implode.
Nicely said Gil.Hows the glowing summation of James Hird that the News Corp guy answered about James Hird at the end of the AFL TV rights press conference.Suck that Fitzpatrick and Gill
For those that didn’t watch it, can you elaborate?
Gill was asked if he’d take questions about Hird. He said no and this was soley about the TV rights deal.
Then a reporter asked Robert Thompson, chief executive of News Corp, a question about Hird. I couldn’t hear the exact question. He replied words to the effect that he’d spoken to James at the beginning of his tenure and that James focus was always on the well-being and mentor-ship of the players. Was pretty obvious he’s a mate and respects his friend.
I am a plant.I am a walrus.
I am a plant.I am a walrus.
yeah we 'stage managed' it about as well as every other farking thing we have done since Feb '13.Club is on its knees and being run by absolutely idiots. Haven’t got a clue and we ALL need to get our heads around the fact that WE are the laughing stock of the AFL now. We are the new Richmond. Welcome to mediocrity.
</blockquote - better get used to it.
Shifting focusIs anyone else excited by change? I personally am excited , I haven’t been or watched many games since round 2 , but am going to watch today with interest.
TBH…
I’m not looking forward to it but I’m not fully against it.
This to me feels like a change for the sake of change arrangement for now.
If we do not upgrade our recruiting, training, development and coaching staff, then the change is useless.
If we get some good people in place and start showing some positive signs of improvement on the field then I’ll get excited about the change.
As far as today’s game…
I’m not excited to watch it. I’m just a casual oberver.
Eloquently said HM. My thoughts exactly.All I took from that press conference was that the club bowed to media pressure.So ■■■■ them.
8 Guernsey + 11 scarves + 3 hats + 3 jumpers + 2 beanies = 1 ■■■■■■■ big garbage bag
You’re just as dumb as the media then mate.
Go and support someone else then, the club doesn’t need you!
Grow a pair.
It’s a hard time for everyone, and walking from the club is the last thing you do.I’m not throwing any EFC gear away any time soon, but it’s hard to deny I’ll care a bit less.
And that’s not my choice. I’ve fallen out of love with footy in general over the last few years, since the club caved in to the AFL at the end of 2013, since the club has continually refused to fight the AFL/media bullshit in any meaningful way, and now, seeing the club throw Hird to the wolves (at their second attempt, it’s pretty clear they tried last year too). It’s hard to be proud and passionate about a club that’s made an art form of cowardice, infighting, backstabbing, incompetence, dishonesty, disloyalty, and scapegoating its own. What does EFC stand for any more? The club certainly should be changing the motto at the very least, surely it’s a case of false advertising these days?
The club board has made the choice to walk away from hird in the (stupid, naive, and misguided) hope that this will make all their problems go away. But they have to realise that there’s only so many times you can walk away from your own, before people will start walking away from you.
All I took from that press conference was that the club bowed to media pressure.Send them back to the club.So ■■■■ them.
8 Guernsey + 11 scarves + 3 hats + 3 jumpers + 2 beanies = 1 ■■■■■■■ big garbage bag
Maybe, there are always memories to fall back on.
All I took from that press conference was that the club bowed to media pressure.Send them back to the club.So ■■■■ them.
8 Guernsey + 11 scarves + 3 hats + 3 jumpers + 2 beanies = 1 ■■■■■■■ big garbage bag
You know, that's not exactly a dishonourable thing to try.Of course they do, doesn't give them the right to shitcan those who aren't as aggrieved as they are about Hird's departure.its not entirely what happened, its when it happened. start looking for another coach, then sack hird after the final round, and only john carpenter would care. but doing it now, total cop out by the board.So now the timing is wrong.i’ve said that multiple times. also mentioned the review. cheers lad.
Speaks volumeslike littles presser and off air talking to caro.
No doubt you would have managed the whole saga after Evans without doing too much wrong.would’ve moved us to tazzie so nickyd and fairybread can see games live.
Cranking up the volumeYou know, you don’t have have to belittle every single poster that’s hurting.
You feel a certain way, that’s fine.
But ffs, enough.
I don’t care if it’s someone I’ve never agreed with in the history of Blitz, which incidentally goes further than your nine months or so, they have a right to feel any way they choose about this.
They’ve done the hard yards.
They’ve fought.
They showed up when they were asked.Leave them the ■■■■ alone.
You are bagging every single poster who has a problem with the decision.
Just stop it.
OK stalwart, but can you tell those with a huge problem with the decision to refrain from advising those who are dealing with it differently, that EFC is not worthy of anyone’s membership.Maybe you could point out exactly who is trying to tell others not to be members. All I’ve read is people expressing their personal anger & disappointment & giving their own reasons for making their own decisions followed by you pretending your opinions are more valid.
You haven’t mentioned the constant bagging of the club’s recent actions and what it now represents; some of us feel compelled to respond as a show of support. My opinion is just like yours, no more or no less vaild.
What’s compelling you to respond?
Been here 9 months saying bugger all & comes to life posting like a speed freak with OCD, trying to talk people out of dropping m/ships after the club torched one of it’s best & brightest to appease the AFL …hmm.
I’ve had it on ignore since I saw the first 5 or so.
Nicely put, I think after 3 years it's all about appeasement now.Of course they do, doesn't give them the right to shitcan those who aren't as aggrieved as they are about Hird's departure.its not entirely what happened, its when it happened. start looking for another coach, then sack hird after the final round, and only john carpenter would care. but doing it now, total cop out by the board.So now the timing is wrong.i’ve said that multiple times. also mentioned the review. cheers lad.
Speaks volumeslike littles presser and off air talking to caro.
No doubt you would have managed the whole saga after Evans without doing too much wrong.would’ve moved us to tazzie so nickyd and fairybread can see games live.
Cranking up the volumeYou know, you don’t have have to belittle every single poster that’s hurting.
You feel a certain way, that’s fine.
But ffs, enough.
I don’t care if it’s someone I’ve never agreed with in the history of Blitz, which incidentally goes further than your nine months or so, they have a right to feel any way they choose about this.
They’ve done the hard yards.
They’ve fought.
They showed up when they were asked.Leave them the ■■■■ alone.
You are bagging every single poster who has a problem with the decision.
Just stop it.
OK stalwart, but can you tell those with a huge problem with the decision to refrain from advising those who are dealing with it differently, that EFC is not worthy of anyone’s membership.Maybe you could point out exactly who is trying to tell others not to be members. All I’ve read is people expressing their personal anger & disappointment & giving their own reasons for making their own decisions followed by you pretending your opinions are more valid.
You haven’t mentioned the constant bagging of the club’s recent actions and what it now represents; some of us feel compelled to respond as a show of support. My opinion is just like yours, no more or no less vaild.
Very true, and some people are capable of expressing themselves well and some not.
I value the opinion of everyone on here even when I disagree with that opinion. I am going to assume that most here put at least some value into others opinion’s, otherwise we all would not be here.
Carry on being compelled to respond as a show of support, that’s great.
A German lady I knew had a saying ‘you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar’. So true.
There is 3 years of frustration being split here, yourself included. Sometimes it good to step back from a situation to see it from another perspective, if that means walking away for a while for some to lick their wounds and recuperate that’s OK. If like yourself you don’t need to that’s OK as well.
When this journey is over and all are spent, then will be the time to heal and the club may become great again.
Which bottom line (which you seem to be fan of) is what we ALL want.
I am a plant.
Reckon this thread should be renamed crocodile tears.
Best call by you. Ever. Fullstop.