Four-time premiership coach Kevin Sheedy says former Essendon head honcho James Hird could take a top job again, if he pursued one.
Hird left the Bombers job amid the long-running supplements saga, but is slowly being re-introduced to the AFL landscape, presenting the Norm Smith Medal at this year’s Grand Final. Sheedy, who used to coach Hird, believes the 1996 Brownlow Medallist could lead a team again.
“If he wanted to, then yes, there is no doubt about that,” he told SEN Brekafast.
“He has never been guilty of anything.”
However, the Australian Football Hall of Fame member added the ugly fallout from the supplements saga highlighted the importance of coaches going through the appropriate processes before they’re appointed.
“He [Hird] was allowed by the AFL to coach and I’ve never believed coaches should coach in the AFL without them doing their credential courses,” Sheedy said.
“Neale Daniher and I tried to get that through 10 years ago and we didn’t, but now the AFL is working very hard to try and get it. The answer from the AFL was we don’t have the right to tell an AFL club whom they could and should appoint. I said, well you do.”
Sheedy also reckons if Hird completed a level-four coaching course before being hired by the Dons, the supplements saga wouldn’t “have happened.”
Hird coached 85 games for Essendon from 2011-2013, and 2015, winning 41 matches, losing 43 and drawing one.