Why ex-Essendon coach James Hird and the AFL club can’t move past each other

Billionaire backer and former president of the Essendon Football Club, Paul Little, is among a group of powerful supporters behind a push to reinstall champion James Hird as the beleaguered team’s coach for a third time. The tantalising comeback story, which seemed too far-fetched for Hollywood only a few months ago, has gained serious momentum since Brad Scott, who won the job over Hird in 2022, was sacked as the Bombers’ coach on Tuesday. This is despite Hird’s role as the coach during the club’s infamous drugs saga that has plagued the underperforming club for more than a decade.