IT was the moment that everyone in the football world, except the Bombers, had seen coming since early in 2012.
James Hird losing his job as head coach of Essendon.
After three years of constant scandals, court battles and questionable form on the field as a result of the peptide regime undertaken in 2011, the Essendon board finally played its last hand – calling for the resignation of Hird and club president Paul Little.
Essendon assistant Matthew Egan will take over the reigns for the final three matches of the season and Simon Lloyd and Stewart Dew are the $4.50 Sportsbet favourites to take the job next season.
Speaking at his final press conference, Hird said that his decision was made in the hope that “players and the supporters will have some space to perform and be a normal football club again”.
“I didn’t know it would come to this [but] I felt that the club needed space. There was a question mark there and that was enough to say, let’s try something else,” Hird said.
Hird believes his departure from the club will give the Dons’ players freedom from the constant media barrage that Essendon has been subjected to for the last three years.
The Bombers have been a basket-case on the field for the past two months, with only one win from 11 matches.
Hird acknowledging the performances from his men have been ‘unacceptable’.
Essendon president Paul Little said the lack of effort on the field ultimately led to Hird’s departure.
“To his credit, James recognises that his performance is ultimately measured by the results of the football team,” Little said.
Who are the main contenders for the Essendon job?
The focus for the job has been on two men which are highly-valued at their ladder-leading football clubs. Lloyd from Fremantle and Dew from Sydney.
Simon Lloyd is the brother of Essendon great Matthew and has a terrific background in the development of younger players, just what the Bombers will be looking for given they intend to give their list a significant overhaul.
Stewart Dew comes with high credentials after successful stints as a player at both Port Adelaide and Hawthorn, and as John Longmire’s right-hand man in Sydney’s 2012 premiership upset against the Hawks.
Dew was ‘very close’ to landing the Melbourne job as Paul Roos’ successor and is said to be one of the more tactically sound coaches in the assistant coaching ranks.
Current Collingwood assistant Scott Burns is another man that comes from strong programs, serving under John Worsfold at West Coast and under Pies coach Nathan Buckley.
By all reports Burns was unlucky to miss out on the Eagles job – which was given to Adam Simpson – and would be a quality young coach for the Dons.
Burns is at $9 to land the Essendon senior coaching position.
Ex-Essendon greats Mark Thomspon and Matthew Lloyd are both $21 outsiders to secure the head job, while four time premiership mentor Kevin Sheedy is in the market – also listed at $21.
Current Essendon assistant Nathan Bassett is a $7 chance after successful stints at Norwood in the SANFL, while former Fremantle head-coach Mark Harvey is at $6 to lead the team he played for.
One of the interesting candidates is Hawthorn mentor Brendan Bolton who took over last year when head-coach Alistair Clarkson took a medical leave from the club.
Bolton is highly touted and always seems to be in the conversation as the next head coach at AFL level when a position is vacated.
Bolton represents real value at $31 to secure the Essendon head coaching role in 2016 and beyond.
