Former Essendon coach Brad Scott has sounded a warning to those considering applying for the club's vacant coaching position, particularly in light of James Hird's expressed interest in returning for a third stint.
Hird wasted no time after Scott's sacking in declaring he would "love" to return to the role, provided that after "the most exhaustive process possible," the Bombers deem him "the best man for the job." The 53-year-old club great, who also acknowledged that the "mistakes ... were partly my fault" during the 2011-12 supplements scandal, previously failed to secure the position when he went through the process that ultimately led to Scott's appointment.
Hird's former premiership coach Kevin Sheedy was the only board member to vote for him over Scott at that time.
Despite that outcome, Hird remained what Caroline Wilson described as "a spectre" over Scott's shoulder throughout his entire tenure. Wilson asked Scott on Channel 7's The Agenda Setters on Tuesday night, "With hindsight should you have taken part in a process that included James Hird?"
Scott took a deep breath before responding, "I think you control what you can control. It would've been highly arrogant to walk into a process and start dictating who can apply for the job and who can't." Wilson then pressed, "But if you knew what you know now?"
Scott's response carried the weight of his four years at the helm: "Yeah, but you don't."
Scott acknowledged that he "hears" the concern that Essendon, and any future coaches who are not Hird, will never be able to move on until their former hero is given another chance. However, he said he made a conscious effort not to feel that pressure while in the job, which already had its own challenges of rebuilding the list while trying to remain competitive.
"Whether I'm maybe naive or oblivious, I've become very, very good over time at focusing on things that are within my control and just blocking out the things that are not," Scott said. "I hear the Essendon coteries are influential and problematic — they've been nothing but supportive. Now I'm sure there's things going on behind the scenes but I just don't spend time in that space."
Bombers president Andrew Welsh earlier on Tuesday opened the door to Hird's application. While he stated that it was "not in consideration at all" for Essendon to rely on a club great, he accepted that a former hero can sometimes be the right person for the job.
"I hear a lot around 'old Essendon', 'new Essendon', 'boys club'," Welsh said. "I look at other clubs that, respectfully, Sam Mitchell's gone back to Hawthorn and doing an amazing job, I look at (Justin) Longmuir over in Fremantle, (Josh) Carr's gone back to Port Adelaide. So I think there's some really good history around players going back to clubs and the right people for those groups going to those clubs."
Essendon are in no rush to finalise the process to find their next coach, which will coincide with arch rivals Carlton's hunt to replace Michael Voss and Tasmania's desire to lock in their inaugural leader. Wilson reported that the Bombers will "look at" former Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley, while premiership winners Adam Simpson and John Longmire also remain unattached.
Essendon interim coach Dean Solomon could be considered, with three former Bombers assistants — Hayden Skipworth, Daniel Giansiracusa, and James Kelly — among the lieutenants around the league seen as potential senior coaches.
Hird's presence looms large, with one member of the panel that appointed Scott recalling being "impressed — I really was." However, one con against Hird's application has not changed significantly since then.
"I think any coach who is then afforded the ability to be a senior coach, it's quite often to their benefit that you go and experience other organisations," Hawthorn great Jordan Lewis told SEN. "I know (Hird) was at the Giants for a period of time but all these coaches who have been plying their trades for 10, 15 (years), some more, in successful organisations I might add, also deserve a fair chance. He was impressive, he presented really well, but it was a decision in the end to go with Brad Scott."
Hird spent time at GWS in 2022 alongside former Essendon teammates Solomon and Mark McVeigh, and he is currently director of coaching at standalone VFL club Port Melbourne. Lewis backed Hird's bid for an AFL comeback: "If I'm completely honest, yes," he said when asked if he could see Hird returning. "For me, what I saw and experienced (in the 2022 process) I think he still understands the game. He presented really well, he still I would think has a great rapport with younger players. In short, yes, I still think he is lost to the game not having been sitting in that senior position."
