Essendon star Zach Merrett tells footy fans James Hird is NOT the right choice to coach the Bombers

Essendon vice-captain Zach Merrett had publicly declared James Hird is the man to lead the Bombers as head coach next season.

The revelation comes as club legend Hird – who won flags at Windy Hill as a player in 1993 and 2000 – seeks redemption after his last stint in charge was destroyed by the infamous drugs scandal.

Speaking at the recent Women in Insolvency and Restructuring Victoria Footy Finals Luncheon, Merrett told the room Hird wouldn’t be his preferred choice at the helm.

The dynamic midfielder, 26 – a three-time best and fairest winner at the club – did add the playing group would ‘make it work’ if the board opted to give Hird another stint in the top job.

The star onballer also expressed a desire to one day captain the club when chatting to sports broadcaster Neroli Meadows, Richmond AFLW player Sarah Hosking and Carlton great Anthony Koutoufides.

Essendon vice-captain Zach Merrett had declared James Hird is not who the Bombers should appoint as their next head coach 

Hird reportedly impressed the panel who interviewed him for the role after the Bombers sacked Ben Rutten

Hird reportedly impressed the panel who interviewed him for the role after the Bombers sacked Ben Rutten

Hird was one of four candidates interviewed for the vacant coaching job this week.

Merrett texted Hird once his remarks at the function became public on Friday, claimed he’d been taken out of context and told the 49-year-old the players would welcome having him as coach, according to the Herald Sun.

Melbourne Demons assistant coach Adem Yze, St Kilda number two Brendon Lade and former Essendon premiership player Dean Solomon are also said to be in the mix.

On Thursday, Essendon legend Tim Watson said he would be ‘more than surprised’ if Hird became the club’s next senior head coach – but says he was entitled to go through the interview process.

Speaking on SEN radio, Watson didn’t think former skipper Hird was the best choice to replace Ben Rutten – especially after the drugs supplement scandal which left the club on its knees.

‘We don’t need a saviour to come back to the Essendon Football Club,’ he said.

‘We need somebody who’s able to put a plan of action in place that’s able to deliver success and to start to build a successful team again.’

Watson added that in his eyes, Hird comes with baggage.

Essendon club legend Tim Watson has declared he would be 'more than surprised' if James Hird became the club's next senior coach

Essendon club legend Tim Watson has declared he would be ‘more than surprised’ if James Hird became the club’s next senior coach

Hird was suspended for the 2014 season for bringing the game into disrepute for his role in the drugs saga, which later led to the suspension of 34 Essendon players - he then quit in 2015

Hird was suspended for the 2014 season for bringing the game into disrepute for his role in the drugs saga, which later led to the suspension of 34 Essendon players – he then quit in 2015

‘If the process is set up correctly, then if James put his hand up and said he wanted to be interviewed, I would’ve thought they were always going to interview him given his unique connection to the Essendon Football Club,’ he said.

‘That doesn’t mean he’s going to get the job, he’s got to go through the process like everybody else.

‘He hasn’t coached since 2015, (and) he wasn’t a successful coach back then, although there’s unusual circumstances around all that.

‘Maybe the sum of his experiences he’s had away from the game since then and what he’s been doing has allowed him to maybe develop a unique set of man management skills. 

‘He’s a super intelligent bloke, and all that would be unveiled through the interviewing process.’

Hird was interviewed by Essendon’s coaching selection panel, which is headed by football boss Josh Mahoney and includes Robert Walls and Jordan Lewis on Wednesday.

Essendon want to announce their new coach shortly after the AFL grand final on September 24.

Hird's most recent coaching stint was with the GWS Giants (pictured), where he was a highly regarded assistant

Hird’s most recent coaching stint was with the GWS Giants (pictured), where he was a highly regarded assistant 

Lewis revealed the candidates made a good impression on the panel members.

‘I think all the panel members were really impressed by the presentations,’ he said.

‘For me it was intriguing and really enlightening.

‘The way modern day coaches think about football and the way it should be played should encourage not only Essendon but the rest of the competition.’

Hird took over in 2010 following a decorated playing career but was suspended for the 2014 season for bringing the game into disrepute for his role in the drugs saga, which later led to the suspension of 34 Essendon players.

He returned to the club following the 2014 season but resigned in August 2015 with a final record of 41 wins, 42 losses and one draw.

Besides his work at GWS this year, first as a leadership advisor, then as an assistant coach, Hird has had minimal involvement in AFL circles since quitting Essendon.

Whoever gets the Essendon role will have a huge job ahead of them after the club's struggles in 2022 cost ex-coach Ben Rutten (pictured) his job

Whoever gets the Essendon role will have a huge job ahead of them after the club’s struggles in 2022 cost ex-coach Ben Rutten (pictured) his job 

In an interview recorded before the Bombers sacked Ben Rutten last month, Hird left the door ajar for a return to coaching.

‘There’s a lot of elements about it [coaching] I like,’ Hird told the Howie Games podcast.

‘I was asked by the CEO of a footy club six weeks ago if I’d like to coach – not his club – but if I’d like to coach again.

‘I’d have to have family considerations to do it.

‘I love the fact that you get in deeply and you work with young people to create something really, really special and you create a great team environment.’

The Bombers attempted and failed to lure now North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson, which prompted Rutten’s sacking.

Ex-GWS boss Leon Cameron and former Fremantle and St Kilda coach Ross Lyon opted out of the process with Essendon, who finished 15th this season.

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