Hird joins GWS

[Dry Rot]

Meanwhile, our favourite club has a new appointee to handle ethics and sports supplements

Football giant returns to the AFL: Hird joins GWS in leadership role

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/afl/football-great-returns-to-the-afl-hird-joins-gws-in-leadership-role-20220111-p59nj4.html

[jeemak]

They did some market research that suggested they were becoming barely likeable so they nipped it in the bud as quickly as possible.

[Dry Rot]

I hope Greene is putting him up.

[josie]

All the more reason to detest the plastic oranges.

[bornadog]

My wife said he has found his natural place.

[GVGjr]

I'm obviously not a fan of his but in a way it would be a shame if he was lost to football.
It will be interesting to see what this might lead to for him.

[hujsh]

I'm obviously not a fan of his but in a way it would be a shame if he was lost to football.
It will be interesting to see what this might lead to for him.

Disagree. Shouldn't be involved with another football club in a leadership position of any variety

[EasternWest]

I'm obviously not a fan of his but in a way it would be a shame if he was lost to football.
It will be interesting to see what this might lead to for him.

Why though? He's clearly a turd.

[GVGjr]

Why though? He's clearly a turd.

No question, I just think people can be rehabilitated after a period of time. If he could just admit he was wrong with the approach he implemented it would go a long way.

[GVGjr]

Disagree. Shouldn't be involved with another football club in a leadership position of any variety

I get that position and perhaps 12 months ago I had the exact some opinion.
I think my initial position with Steve Smith and Warner changed and I can see the merit in 'controlled' 2nd chances.

[hujsh]

No question, I just think people can be rehabilitated after a period of time. If he could just admit he was wrong with the approach he implemented it would go a long way.

But if he hasn't and hasn't shown any sign of repentance shouldn't that be the first step to a second chance?

IIRC with the examples of Warner and Smith didn't they at least admit wrongdoing and accept their punishment?

[MrMahatma]

I don't think he's a turd, maybe stubborn to a fault. He put his trust in the wrong people and needed to own that.

I think he can have another crack in footy and have no problem with it... but agree if he hasn't owned his mistakes then that makes it a bit harder. Especially being a leadership consultant... I mean, surely in leadership you have to own your flaws and mistakes?

He's been gone a fair while and had some dark time. I hope he makes good of his new appointment and he can be a productive part of footy again. Never had a problem with him. Great player. Seemed a genuinely smart operator when I heard him speak. I just hope he doesn't help make GWS any good!

[Bulldog Revolution]

Call me a conspiracy theorist, however, is the Hird appointment just another orchestrated by Morrison designed to distract from his Governments management of COVID?

Who's next?

First it was Djoker, now its Hird, next its ______

[Mofra]

I don't think he's a turd, maybe stubborn to a fault. He put his trust in the wrong people and needed to own that.

I think he can have another crack in footy and have no problem with it... but agree if he hasn't owned his mistakes then that makes it a bit harder. Especially being a leadership consultant... I mean, surely in leadership you have to own your flaws and mistakes?

He's been gone a fair while and had some dark time. I hope he makes good of his new appointment and he can be a productive part of footy again. Never had a problem with him. Great player. Seemed a genuinely smart operator when I heard him speak. I just hope he doesn't help make GWS any good!
His history with Shane Charter that as glossed over before the supplements saga hit has been strangely overlooked by much of the AFL media.
Personally, I think he's dodgier and more arrogant than many expect. Conversely, his kids are apparently the most polite and well spoken AFL offspring you could stumble across. Go figure.

[The bulldog tragician]

Why though? He's clearly a turd.

And of all the roles he could take, LEADERSHIP?? It beggars belief to imagine him providing high level advice on that front.

He did everything wrong in a leadership sense. Failures of governance, responsibility, accountability. He revealed himself to be self-entitled and narcissistic. If he returned to footy at all it should be strictly confined to how to mark, handball and kick. Even then, there would be no way I'd want him in any role around our footy club but I guess GWS could be a sort of natural home for him.

[EasternWest]

If he could just admit he was wrong with the approach he implemented it would go a long way.

Ding ding ding ding ding.


I don't think he's a turd, maybe stubborn to a fault. He put his trust in the wrong people and needed to own that.

I'm pretty sure you just ctrl + C, ctrl + V ed that straight from his scripted apology.


Call me a conspiracy theorist, however, is the Hird appointment just another orchestrated by Morrison designed to distract from his Governments management of COVID?

Who's next?

First it was Djoker, now its Hird, next its ______

I wanna know why they keep spraying us with chemtrails.

[jeemak]

I'm obviously not a fan of his but in a way it would be a shame if he was lost to football.
It will be interesting to see what this might lead to for him.

Aren't systemic drug cheats the exact type of people we would hope are lost to football?

[EasternWest]

Aren't systemic drug cheats the exact type of people we would hope are lost to football?

I'm actually surprised there's been any positive response to this.

Next we'll be hailing Bomber Thompson's return to being in charge of Gold Coast's first aid cabinet as a masterstroke.

Where does it stop? Do we welcome Wayne Carey back to the commentary box? Making him Minister for Women's Affairs?

[GVGjr]

Aren't systemic drug cheats the exact type of people we would hope are lost to football?

I've got no problems with this sort of opinion but is it an empathic acknowledgement that people can't change and we can never forgive?

I don't like the man because he never owned up up to crossing the line and on top of that I'd be upset if it was our club bringing him in but at some point I believe he should be able to come back into system. Perhaps he hasn't served enough of a sentence.

Some in the AFL have done despicable actions and somehow find their way back.

[hujsh]

I've got no problems with this sort of opinion but is it an empathic acknowledgement that people can't change and we can never forgive?

I don't like the man because he never owned up up to crossing the line and on top of that I'd be upset if it was our club bringing him in but at some point I believe he should be able to come back into system. Perhaps he hasn't served enough of a sentence.

Some in the AFL have done despicable actions and somehow find their way back.

What has he done to earn forgiveness?

Given it's quite a privilege to work in an AFL environment I'd think one mistake of that magnitude is enough to rule him out for good. He can find forgiveness in many many other careers that don't involve leadership in an AFL environment.

[jeemak]

I've got no problems with this sort of opinion but is it an empathic acknowledgement that people can't change and we can never forgive?

I don't like the man because he never owned up up to crossing the line and on top of that I'd be upset if it was our club bringing him in but at some point I believe he should be able to come back into system. Perhaps he hasn't served enough of a sentence.

Some in the AFL have done despicable actions and somehow find their way back.

I think you've answered your own question. If he had have taken responsibility for what occurred and repented, I'd be prepared to agree that yes, he can and should be given an opportunity to prove himself again.

But he's not done that, and like Mofra said, his shady past with Charters and this episode paints a picture of someone who thinks this behaviour is OK and is taking the piss out of everyone.

[EasternWest]

I've got no problems with this sort of opinion but is it an empathic acknowledgement that people can't change and we can never forgive?

I don't like the man because he never owned up up to crossing the line

Are you not contradicting yourself here?

I'm all for a redemption story. But a true redemption story starts with facing up to the fact that you own the issue, not blithely ignoring it or pointing fingers elsewhere.

I can't and won't agree with you on this. It's just another example of the boys brigade being waved through the gates.

[mjp]

I don't like the man because he never owned up up to crossing the line...

He's not my favourite but I think the Essendon Supplements Scandal (aka systematic drugging of players) was a scandal in two parts:

1/. The Essendon footy department pushing the boundaries of sport science to places they should NEVER be pushed. And - whether guilty of doping or not (and will we EVER know the answer) they 100% took actions that were not in the best interests of the game or their footballers.

2/. The AFL lies, cover-ups and finger pointing that ignored due process and the rights of individuals in order to paint Essendon as a 'dirty club' led astray by 'bad men'. The story in 'The Boys Club' on this - even if only 30% accurate - is beyond belief.

I don't think Hird ever thought he COULD apologise because he was so busy defending himself as 'leader of the bad men'. He was 100% always going to be on the wrong side of history but the AFL's determination to protect themselves and their execs at the expense of the Essendon footy club was not a great chapter.

[Mofra]

The fact they excluded their long term and respected club doctor from the supplements process should have been the biggest red flag imaginable.
Absolutely inexcusable.

[GVGjr]

The fact they excluded their long term and respected club doctor from the supplements process should have been the biggest red flag imaginable.
Absolutely inexcusable.

I've never understood why so many players accepted needles and supplements with a highly respected the club doctor removed from the process.

[jeemak]

I've never understood why so many players accepted needles and supplements with a highly respected the club doctor removed from the process.

We was just following orders, honestly!

As an athlete you're 100% responsible for what you put in your body, and the leadership within the playing group should have put a stop to what was going on quick smart.

[GVGjr]

We was just following orders, honestly!

As an athlete you're 100% responsible for what you put in your body, and the leadership within the playing group should have put a stop to what was going on quick smart.

I don't think it's exclusive principle just for athletes but I agree the leadership group just followed the advice and didn't question it at enough. I would have bene asking why the doctor wasn't onboard and as soon as they said something like he had old fashioned views it would have triggered alarm bells.

[bornadog]

I don't think it's exclusive principle just for athletes but I agree the leadership group just followed the advice and didn't question it at enough. I would have been asking why the doctor wasn't onboard and as soon as they said something like he had old fashioned views it would have triggered alarm bells.

I cannot believe the doctor didn't know what was going on. Out of 40 odd players, officials and a few people, someone would have said something.

[GVGjr]

I cannot believe the doctor didn't know what was going on. Out of 40 odd players, officials and a few people, someone would have said something.

I think he knew about it but he was excluded from the process. It was the fact he was asking so many questions that resulted him him being pushed aside.

[Grantysghost]

I cannot believe the doctor didn't know what was going on. Out of 40 odd players, officials and a few people, someone would have said something.

Agree the whole thing was a massive mess. If he didn't know, why didn't he? If he did, they were trying to protect his reputation I assume.

As for Hird, I'm all for second chances and he seems to have suffered greatly unfortunately with his own health due to the saga, so I'm ok with it.

[Nuggety Back Pocket]

Agree the whole thing was a massive mess. If he didn't know, why didn't he? If he did, they were trying to protect his reputation I assume.

As for Hird, I'm all for second chances and he seems to have suffered greatly unfortunately with his own health due to the saga, so I'm ok with it.
I would be surprised if Kevin Sheedy didn’t play a key role in Hird’s appointment given their close relationship with Sheedy’s history at both Essendon and the establishment of GWS

[bornadog]

I would be surprised if Kevin Sheedy didn’t play a key role in Hird’s appointment given their close relationship with Sheedy’s history at both Essendon and the establishment of GWS

Sheeds is also a life member of GWS.

[jeemak]

I think he knew about it but he was excluded from the process. It was the fact he was asking so many questions that resulted him him being pushed aside.

From memory he wrote to the club hierarchy expressing his concerns so they sidelined him and that was that.

[SonofScray]

Sheedy's DNA.

Two awful people and proponents of the game. Cheats and frauds. Neither should be spoken of again, unless is is to deride them and stamp out any effort to rehabilitate their legacy.

Essendon are lucky to still exist.

[Ghost Dog]

Should have been banned for life.

[macca]

Call me a conspiracy theorist, however, is the Hird appointment just another orchestrated by Morrison designed to distract from his Governments management of COVID?

Who's next?

First it was Djoker, now its Hird, next its ______

…. Kanye west is on the radar for next distraction

[Bulldog Joe]

Call me a conspiracy theorist, however, is the Hird appointment just another orchestrated by Morrison designed to distract from his Governments management of COVID?

Who's next?

First it was Djoker, now its Hird, next its ______

Would Morrison even know who GWS or Hird is?