hird offer

candidate for new job Dockers

JAMES Hird could return from the football wilderness after Fremantle coach Ross Lyon reportedly contacted him about joining the club.

Hird, whose reign as Essendon coach ended in the wake of the supplements saga for which he served a one-year ban, is overseas and yet to announce his intentions.

Fremantle last night con- firmed Hird, 45, was one of several potential candidates to fill a part-time role at the club.

“The club is going through a process to potentially appoint a part-time opposition analyst based in Melbourne,” Dockers general manager of football operations Chris Bond said.

“We are in the early stages of considering a number of possible candidates and that process has not yet been completed.”

Fremantle captain Nat Fyfe yesterday said he would be delighted if Hird joined the club.

“Is that right? That would be great,” Fyfe said.

“This is literally the first I’m hearing of it. He’s an idol of mine and that would be unreal, but I can’t really comment because you’re breaking the news to me now.

“Why I loved James Hird as a player? Because he was a gun, he impacted at big moments, but me commenting on him potentially being a coach wouldn’t be appropriate at this time.”

The AFL yesterday said there was nothing stopping Hird accepting an official position at a club.

Hird returned to coach Essendon in 2015 after serving his 12-month suspension, but parted ways with the Bombers before the end of the season.

He presented the Norm Smith Medal to Richmond’s Dustin Martin at last year’s grand final.

“There is no impediment because Hird had already returned to the game and presented the Norm Smith Medal,” a league spokesman said last night.

Fremantle remained tightlipped yesterday. Hird could not be contacted.