Suspended Essendon coach James Hird is back in Melbourne after a lengthy stay in France and “can’t wait” to return to the Dons.
Currently serving a 12-month suspension for his role in the 2012 Essendon supplement scandal, Hird will be free to return to the sidelines for the club’s Round 23 clash with Carlton and is “definitely” hoping to reprise his head coach title.
“I can’t wait to be back and I look forward to heading back to Essendon,” Hird told reporters from his Toorak home after returning from Europe early Wednesday morning.
“But we’ll (interim coach Mark Thompson) catch up now I’m back, and I look forward to getting back to the club as soon as I can,” he said.
Hird spent the past four months at the illustrious INSEAD business school near Paris, but was forbidden access to inside Essendon operations throughout the length on his suspension.
The former Brownlow Medallist is set to discuss his immediate future with stand-in coach Thompson- who has guided the Dons to a 10-7 record and seventh place on the AFL ladder- as to when the 41-year-old will coach his 67th game.
Current expectations have the Bombers pegged to at least hand Hird a game-day role come finals should the team maintain or better its current standing in the top eight despite The Age’s Caroline Wilson reporting earlier in the week that Thompson’s preference is to maintain the coaching role in solidarity for the remainder of 2014.
Photo: Michael Dodge/Getty Images
