Former Essendon superstar Matthew Lloyd has come under fire for his recent comments about why James Hird should be hired as the next coach of the embattled club. Lloyd said on Footy Classified that he had come around to Hird, his former teammate, returning to the Bombers, largely because “the club is at the lowest ebb in history”.
Lloyd's Reasoning for Hird's Return
Hird, whose first stint in charge was plagued by Essendon’s supplements scandal, has repeatedly stated he is keen to return to the role he last held in 2015. Lloyd argued that Essendon had to give him another chance because he was the only person who could give fans hope.
“It’s gonna be really difficult for whoever gets the job. They’re not as bad as they are playing right now, but whoever takes on the job, it’s gonna be a really rough couple of years and that’s where James Hird coming in could buffer that,” Lloyd said. “The supporters are at breaking point. I call it sad, I call it hopeless — they’re some of the terms I use for where the powerful club I walked into has now become. You’re at that point of, where do you turn to next? That’s why it’s got to the point where people are saying it is James Hird. Where is it next? What gives us hope? He is the only hope and that’s why I’m coming around to James Hird.”
Wilson Dismisses Lloyd's Take as 'Balderdash'
But veteran AFL journalist Caroline Wilson, who also works with Lloyd on radio, said the hot take simply did not add up. “There’s some extraordinary rot being spoken this week, I have to say,” Wilson said on Channel 7’s The Agenda Setters. “Look, Matthew Lloyd is one of the best people I’ve worked with in footy in the media. He’s one of the best commentators and he’s one of the nicest people. But that is absolute balderdash to suggest that because Essendon have sunk so low, that because they’re at their lowest ebb ... that James Hird is the answer. Why is James Hird the answer? Because the club has sunk so low? Like, where’s the logic in that? It’s illogical.”
Kane Cornes defended Lloyd, saying he was entitled to his opinion as an Essendon person who watches the club closely. “And if this is their lowest moment and his belief and James Hird is the only one that can fix it, is it fair for him to have that opinion?” Cornes asked. Wilson retorted: “But the two don’t match.”
Lowest Ebb Was During Supplements Scandal, Says Wilson
Wilson acknowledged Essendon was at a low point but stressed the lowest ebb was during the supplements scandal, which was overseen by Hird and resulted in 34 players getting suspended, including 17 AFL-listed players who missed the 2016 season. She emphasised that many had contributed to the club's current predicament.
Longmire Contacted by Essendon
Meanwhile, John Longmire has been contacted by Essendon as part of the club’s search for a new senior coach. But Wilson said the Sydney 2012 premiership coach won’t engage in any process until the Bombers decide what they actually want. Essendon have reached out to Longmire’s management, with the club having contacted at least 10 candidates. However, Longmire has made it clear through his advisers that Essendon need to determine their direction before he’ll consider being part of any formal process.
“He loves his job at the Swans (as executive director of performance) and it’s well paid and it’s rewarding. My view, he’s a coach and he wants to coach again,” Wilson said. “(But) he has basically communicated to people who advise him, they need to decide what they want. Do they want James Hird and Dean Solomon? Do they want an assistant coach in the manner of Steven King or Craig McRae? Or do they want an experienced senior coach like (Longmire)? Because until they decide what they want, there’s no point being part of any process.”
Longmire’s position is similar to former Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley’s approach to the Essendon situation. Wilson also said Longmire spoke with Tasmania about two weeks ago, alongside Nathan Buckley, and remains in the mix for that position.
