James Hird

James Hird
Personal information
Original team(s)	Ainslie, ACT
Debut	Round 1, March 21, 1992, Essendon vs. St Kilda, at Waverley Park
Height / weight	188cm / 90kg
Playing career1
Essendon (1992-2007) 253 games, 343 goals
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of Round 22, 2007.
Career highlights
All-Australian 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2003 Essendon Best and Fairest 1994, 1995, 1996, 2003 Brownlow Medal winner 1996 Norm Smith Medal winner 2000 International Rules Series 2000 (captain), 2004 Jim Stynes Medal 2000 Essendon captain 1998-2005 Essendon premiership side 1993, 2000 (Captain) Essendon - named at number three on the list of the club's all-time greatest players
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

James Albert Hird (born February 4, 1973) is a retired Australian rules footballer and former captain of the Essendon Football Club. A versatile player who can play in a key forward position, the midfield or as a sweeper in defence, he is generally considered to be one of the best and most fearless modern players in the game of Australian rules football, and one of the greatest players of all time.

A long-time captain of the Bombers, Hird is admired not only for his on-field bravery, but his exceptional ability to anticipate the course of play. This benefits not only his own play but that of his teammates, making him one of the most effective club leaders in modern times. With one notable exception (see the section on "umpiring controversy" below), he is also respected for his good behaviour on and off the field, and has been an articulate, effective spokesperson for his club in extensive media work. He suffered serious head injuries in a collision with teammate Mark McVeigh in May, 2002 which almost forced him into retirement, but he recovered and continued to play a vital role in the Essendon team.

Early career

James Hird was recruited from the Ainslie Football Club in Canberra, in the 1990 AFL draft. Due to injury problems in his junior football career, he was not selected until pick number 79, one of the last in the draft.

James Hird made his debut in 1992 and played in Essendon's Reserves Premiership team of that year, coached by Denis Pagan, but it was in the 1993 season he first began to make his mark on the game. 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 fairests, culminating in his 1996 season, where he was jointly award the Brownlow Medal for the League's fairest and best player with Brisbane Bears half-forward Michael Voss.

Injuries

A series of injuries restricted Hird's appearances during the remainder of the 90s. He could manage 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. An even worse year followed in 1999, when stress fractures in his foot kept him to only two games. Injuries have again plagued Hird since then, the worst being an horrific facial injury during the 2002 season, when he collided with teammate Mark McVeigh's knee - breaking or fracturing all but a couple of the bones in his skull. Hird was in hospital for a week and missed several months of the season. He also suffered calf strains during his 200th and 250th games.

2000 Premiership success

2000 was a much better year for Hird. Injury free, he won a number of honours, including selection and captaincy of the All Australian Team, and the Norm Smith Medal for a best on ground performance in the AFL Grand Final. The Essendon team also won the Ansett Cup pre-season competition, and the regular season premiership. The team only lost one game - against the Western Bulldogs - in the year 2000, making it the most successful year for any team in the history of the Australian Football League.

The following season's Grand Final was a disappointment for Hird. He played poorly and his post-match congratulatory speech to the victorious Brisbane Lions was considered to be ungracious.

2004: Umpiring Comments

After Round 2, 2004, Hird put the first and only public dent into his highly respected reputation, when he made one of his regular panel appearances on The Footy Show. Hird launched a surprising attack on the umpiring his team received in the previous round, raising questions about the professionalism and fairness of the performance. He stated that they had trouble with one particular umpire in several games in the past; initially, it seemed that he wanted to leave the umpire anonymous, but he felt that he had to name Scott McLaren, whom he later described as "disgraceful."

Host Eddie McGuire and the other panelists were clearly shocked by Hird's comments; no player had so publicly criticised umpiring for years, and to criticise a particular umpire was unheard of. To begin with, it was clear that Hird had the intention of standing up against his believed mistreatment by umpire McLaren, but the extremely startled reaction by Eddie McGuire and the panelists perhaps made him realise that this could cost him, in both fines and suspension from playing football. As McGuire probed him further to determine the reasons for his comments, Hird began to realise the trouble he had created for himself, and his comments became increasingly softer; by the end of the discussion, Hird's public position had changed. Essendon had no longer "had trouble with McLaren in the past;" instead, it was just "some decisions in this particular game." It was, however, too late. The damage had been done

The matter bypassed the AFL Tribunal, and the punishment Hird would receive would be determined directly by a meeting of the AFL Commission. The Footy Show airs on Thursdays, and the AFL Commission were not meeting until the following week. As such, Hird was allowed to play in the Round 3 game against the West Coast Eagles. Meanwhile, the media and public debated how Hird should be treated: most agreed that a hefty fine would be imposed, some believing a suspension should also have been levied. For others, the debate centered around whether or not players should be allowed to criticise umpires.

With his impending penalty, Hird took part in the Round 3 game against West Coast two nights later. It was a close, high scoring game, remembered as one of the best games of football for years. Particularly standing out was its final quarter, in which eleven goals were scored, including five in the final five minutes. Hird played an excellent game, amassing 34 disposals and scoring 3.1. In the dying seconds of the game, with the scores level at 131 a piece, Hird kicked the winning goal from an acute angle, and in the emotion of the moment, he ran to the fence and hugged the first fan he saw, a young teenage Essendon fan. It was the final score of the game, with Essendon winning by a solitary goal. Controversially, Hird received no Brownlow Medal votes from the umpires for his 34 disposals, media speculation being that the umpires deliberately snubbed him because of his comments. The votes went to Matthew Lloyd (three votes, seven marks, eight goals), Ben Cousins (thirty disposals, three goals), and eventual winner Chris Judd (twenty-three disposals).

On the following Wednesday, April 15, the AFL Commission handed down its penalty to Hird. He was fined $20,000, and forced to contribute to a 3-year umpiring development program; the Commission decided against suspension. In further controversy, Scott McLaren was one of the umpires rostered for the Essendon vs Carlton game the following Friday night. The pair shook hands at the commencement of the game, but Carlton fans were particularly hostile to any free kicks given by McLaren to Essendon. [1]

Recent career

In 2003, despite again missing eight games through various injuries, Hird tied in the Essendon best and fairest with Scott Lucas. He also narrowly missed out on a second Brownlow Medal, finishing only 3 votes behind the winners. However, he was rewarded with a place in 2003's All-Australian side.

Further emphasising Hird's status as one of the game's great players, in 2002 the Essendon Football Club named him as number three on their list of the club's 25 best ever players.

In 2005, he recreated his game-winning goal against West Coast for Toyota's AFL advertisements. In it, the fan he hugged is replaced by a random groundskeeper.

Hird completed a degree as a civil engineer, but aside from football-related media work he has also spent time working for a stockbroking firm

On September 27, 2005, Hird handed the captaincy to Matthew Lloyd. After Lloyd sustained a season-ending injury in Round 3 of 2006, Hird served briefly as acting captain until young ruckman David Hille was named captain for the remainder of the 2006 season.

2007: The Final Chapter

Despite much speculation that he would retire at the end of the 2006 season, Hird, to the astonishment and excitement of fans, played out the 2007 season - playing 17 of a possible 22 games. Throughout his farewell season, Hird displayed many of his trademark skills, showing fans and critics alike why he has become one of the AFL's true champions. Hird's form throughout his final season was truly amazing, achieving numerous best-on-ground performances, showing he still had what it took to play at the highest level, and enabling him to exit on a fantastic note. However, Hird's fairytale last season didn't all go to plan, receiving a calf-injury midway through his 250th game - causing him to miss five games during the year. The injury hurt Essendon, who at the time, were in the stages that would define whether or not they would make the finals. Despite that injury, Hird's final season contained numerous games that would be forever remembered in his career highlights. The two consecutive one-point wins over, first the Sydney Swans and then the West Coast Eagles - both teams Grand Finalists and Premiers the two years before - only added to a miraculous finale that even Hird couldn't have imagined. He played starring roles in both games and couldn't believe the endings that were.

James Hird played his final game (in Victoria) at the MCG, to a crowd of over 88,000 onlookers against the Richmond Tigers. The game was neck and neck until half time - when Essendon looked on top. After half time, though, the Tigers ran away with the game to win by 27 points. Hird's fairy-tale ending wasn't to be but most of the 88,000 fans stayed and madly applauded during the presentation for James Hird and Kevin Sheedy who was also wrapping up his last game as Essendon coach before Bomber fans in Victoria. A commemoration video for Hird and Sheedy was played as they did a final lap of honour in front of their fans. A fireworks display followed, before Hird along with Sheedy and their families exited the MCG playing arena for the last time.

The next week - the final round of the season - was the real ending for James Hird and Kevin Sheedy. A near capacity crowd of over 42,000 people saw the Bombers take on traditional rivals, the West Coast Eagles, at Subiaco. The game was a shootout in the first quarter, although missed opportunities and sloppy play by the Bombers saw the Eagles leading by 16 points. The quality of Essendon's play seemed to decrease as the game progressed, which saw the Eagles lead blow out to 51 points before three-quarter time when it was 44 points the difference. Despite the startling difference of the two teams on the scoreboard, James Hird's performance still shone as brightly as ever. After one last inspirational speech from Kevin Sheedy at three-quarter-time, the Bombers headed out to the field for the last 30 minutes of football in one of the greatest and most decorated careers the game has seen. Essendon got off to a flying start in the final term with Scott Lucas kicking three quick goals. A remarkable fight back by the Bombers ensued, with Lucas going on to kick a further four goals in the final term, as the stunned crowd saw Essendon cut back the Eagles 44 point lead to three points. A miss from Scott Lucas from about 30 metres out saw Essendon's chances of causing one of the biggest upsets of the year and another extraordinary fight back, slowly diminish. A late goal from Eagle Brent Staker stretched the lead to eight points, stealing a fairytale ending from Hird. In a best on ground performance, James Hird amassed 34 possessions - the highest of anyone on the ground, eight marks, and a trademark snap goal from an impossible angle. An unwanted siren interupted Essendon's hopes of a spectacular ending, as fans madly waved items of clothing above their head to commemorate Kevin Sheedy who'd also been playing out his last game as coach of the Essendon Football Club. A presentation was held for Hird and Sheedy, with speeches, gifts and congratulations being exchanged. Sheedy received a framed jacket, half covered with Bombers colours, half in Eagles colours - representing the fierce rivalry that Kevin Sheedy began with a famous "Baby Bomber" victory against West Coast in 1993 - where the famous jacket wave was born. After pictures of Hird, his family (wife Tania, daughter Stephanie and sons Thomas and Alexander), staff members and players were taken - and all thanks and congratulations were exchanged, James Hird and Kevin Sheedy were chaired off the ground as both they and their adoring fans said one last thank you.

Notable Performances

Hird is recognized for his ability to win a game almost single-handedly. In 2006 the Essendon Football Club's official website listed his 5 greatest performances, as voted by fans.

According to the "Best of Hird" list, his 5th greatest performance was against Fremantle in the 2003 Elimination Final. He lead the Bombers to an away finals victory with 28 possessions and 2 goals. One of the goals was a long kick outside 50 that luckily bounced through.

In 4th place was his Anzac day performance against Colllingwood in 2004. He would win the Anzac medal for the second year running and 3rd time in 5 years.

In 3rd place was his Anzac day performance a year earlier in 2003. Kicking 5 goals including 3 in the last quarter when he tore the Magpies to pieces. Collingwood had three men marking him, but he was in devastating form. His 3 goals in the last quarter were all amazing snaps from a long way out. He also won the Anzac day medal.

In 2nd place was his game against Melbourne in the 2000 AFL Grand Final. Hird proves himself the ultimate big game player leading the team to victory and claiming the Norm Smith medal, collecting 2 goals and 29 disposals.

In 1st place was his performance against West Coast, Round 3, 2004. After a horror week - see Umpiring Comments - he showed great determination to see his team over the line. In the first 3 quarters he amassed 19 disposals and 1 goal. However, it was his final quarter which will always stand out. Collecting 15 dispsoals and 2 goals, 1 behind, his sheer determination won the game for the Bombers. His first goal of that quarter was kicked with 5 minutes remaining, after marking 50 Metres out on the lead. He converted his mark with a great long range shot from an angle. The goal that stands out was his third, which ended up being the winning goal. After Damien Adkins goaled in the 30th minute the game seemed set for a draw. Hird had different ideas. At the centre bounce he won the ball and played the ball inside 50, which the Eagles defended well, resulting in a bounce. The ball was bounced in Essendon's forward pocket; the ball was tapped to the boundary line side, roved, and neatly handpassed to a goalward running Hird, who slotted it through from 30m on an acute angle. In the emotion of the moment, he ran to the fence and hugged the first fan he saw, a young teenage Essendon fan. In total Hird collected 34 disposals and 3 goals, 1 behind. The final score was 137-131. It is remembered as one of the best games of football in modern times. Yet despite almost single-handedly winning the match for Essendon, Hird failed to secure a Brownlow vote due his remarks about the umpires on the footy show.

Personal life

Hird is married to Tania Poynton and they have three children - a daughter, Stephanie (born 1999), and two sons, Thomas (born 2001) and Alexander (born 2003). Tania is the sister of former Young Talent Time performer Greg Poynton. Hird also owns a Melbourne restaurant called "Red Mullet" and is an active partner in "Gemba" - a sports marketing and media consultancy firm based in Melbourne.

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

He appeared in a Toyota AFL Legendary Moments commercial where he recreated his 2004 snap goal in the dying minutes against the West Coast Eagles to win the game.

External links

• James Hird's profile on the official website of the Essendon Football Club
• James Hird's playing statistics from AFL Tables
• Toyota memorable moment advertisement featuring James Hird
• James Hird's winning Goal agaimst West Coast 2004