Mark Robinson has welcomed the announcement that James Hird will be presenting the Norm Smith Medal at this year’s AFL Grand Final, branding the people that will boo the former Essendon champion on the day as disgraceful.
Hird’s role as Bombers coach in the club’s long-running supplements scandal has soured his image in the minds of many, having been suspended by the AFL for 12 months for bringing the game into disrepute in 2013.
Despite returning to the club for the 2015 season, he resigned from the role later that year amidst a string of court cases launched against the AFL over his ban.
The toll of the saga came to a fore earlier this year when Hird was admitted to a hospital for three and a half weeks due to mental health issues – which Robinson believes is the most concerning aspect of his return to the public eye should the crowd voice their abuse on Grand Final day.
Due to this, the Herald Sun chief footy writer has branded anyone who decides to boo Hird at the game as a coward.
“Every AFL player than announces they have mental health issues, there’s a wide support in the community and the football industry,” Robinson told SEN’s The Run Home.
“James Hird suffered severe mental health issues and ended up in a hospital for three and a half weeks. If everyone thinks it is OK to continue to ridicule or abuse James Hird, I think we’ve got a major problem.
“He was in a bad way and I think people close to James were thinking that he wasn’t long for this planet, and everyone says bugger him, let’s abuse him.
“That’s a disgrace.
“What is he supposed to do? Live in a cave for the rest of his life? This is part of the rehabilitation of James Hird.
“The AFL instigated it and Hird accepted. It’s a chance for everyone to say OK, let’s move on.”
Hird is next in line to present the award for the player adjudged to be best on ground in the Grand Final after winning the medal himself in 2000 - and accepted his invitation the game’s showcase event earlier today.