I’m just telling you my opinion, I can’t say what I know publicly.
I’m of the opinion that Hird and Michael Voss fell victim to the “favourite son curse” at their respective clubs, Essendon and the Brisbane Lions, which they led to premierships in 2000 and 2001-03.
I feel those two clubs would’ve expected them to achieve the same success as coaches, but ultimately wouldn’t.
While Nathan Buckley couldn’t lead the Pies to a flag on the field, he tried his hardest as a coach, before bowing out in mid-2021, while Sam Mitchell is also overseeing a rebuild at Hawthorn following their glory days.
And of course, John Worsfold led the Eagles to a flag as coach in 2006, more than a decade after captaining them to their 1992 and 1994 premierships.
IMO:
Proved to be a bit of a better coach than his former on-field commensurate in Hird, though the latter’s was cut severely short, so we may never know, Hird did decent across 2011, 2012 and 2013.
A legend, as for his years at Essendon, I’m in the camp that doesn’t see it as a ‘failure’, I see him as the re-start or proper re-build post the drugs saga, which Scott is now continuing. Wasn’t expecting much until maybe from 2025, but the Dons have proven the comp so far this year rather unbelievably. Poor Rutten the blip there, for whatever reasons, we may never know, didn’t appear a good decision in 2021 and 2022.
I don’t think he can coach, really, let’s not get hyped about yesterday’s performance despite the loss. Until then, we’d seen some very very poor performances, even worse than North and Richmond’s worse IMO, on par with a pre 2024 Eagles.
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There was more than just Hird and Voss during this time. I was suggest Primus was handed the same fate as was Lepitch.
I really don’t get the hate on Mitchell. It’s really difficult coaching a club that has come off a dynasty. Mitchell was left with very little from Clarkson who was given way too much say in terms of list management. I think he has a really good game style that when played correctly can beat some of the best sides (as was evident when they have beaten teams like Collingwood).
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The differences were: Primus missed the 2004 premiership due to a knee injury, during which Warren Tredrea deputized as captain, while Leppitsch never captained the Lions.
But yes, Port and the Lions did suffer from prolonged poor on-field results during their tenures as coaches of those respective clubs.
IIRC Port Adelaide were in dire financial trouble until Kochie and Ken Hinkley were brought in as president and coach, and within years they’d finish just one kick short of reaching a decider.
As for the Lions, a major overhaul of their football staff occurred at the end of 2016 and last year they got to within a kick of a flag.
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This on best timeslots getting a lot of feedback online today:
https://twitter.com/7AFL/status/1792743519226155374?t=rj7bGrjvNdTOkNeA-oL5ew&s=19
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Friday night is my favourite. To watch live it’s Saturday night.
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Though maybe could you argue that day games should technically be a better contest eg. no dew on the ground to make the ball slippery?
But all the best games are on at night now to suit TV.
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Former Collingwood and North Melbourne player Bill Serong has died at 88. He was a member of the Pies’ 1958 premiership team.
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North Melbourne have also posted a tribute and have indicated they will be wearing black arm bands on the weekend
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Any relation to Caleb?
I doubt it.
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Former Essendon and North Melbourne premiership player Barry Davis, who led the Kangaroos to their first VFL flag in 1975, has died.
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Not related to Fremantle’s Caleb or Hawthorn’s Jai (who are brothers)
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still second on the ladder! What a game last night, was surprised, good to get the 4 points though. Lets smash Gold Coast and Carlton 
Good to see Collingwood not win, Richmond lose and Geelong lose again at home (!) & their fourth loss in a row (!) Just wish Carlton had lost too, oh well, still on the edge of the 8 with multiple teams and will lose more games and fall out of the 8 again I feel 
There’ll be talk about Essendon’s performance last night, against a team who lost by over 100pts last week, however I feel that’d be unfair to the Tigers, who played their best game of the year and honestly who couldn’t see that coming on DreamTime and after last week, too famous a club not to do something this week.
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Richmond were a different team last night. They played their best game of the season. Hopefully going forward they get some wins on the board.
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A win is a win. All teams can bring the energy on any given night. 4 points are important for all teams and Essendon should be happy about that. I’m still not on the bandwagon yet though
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Oh, my poor Eagles… 
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