James Hird does want to coach at AFL level again, according to Essendon great Tim Watson.
There has been much speculation surrounding the former Bombers coach who is back in a footy role with GWS having spent many years out of the game following the supplements saga.
Channel 7’s Tom Browne alluded to a potential Hird return on Wednesday night and Watson has corroborated the story by saying that he is hearing the same.
“Tom Browne reported last night on our news that James Hird does want to coach,” he said on SEN Breakfast.
“There’s been some speculation about whether or not he did or he didn’t or what he was going to do.
“I believe that the story is absolutely 100 per cent correct that he does want to coach.”
Garry Lyon asked: “You’re saying 100 per cent on the money that James Hird wants to coach AFL footy again?”
Watson: “That’s what I am hearing, yes.
“Which adds weight to what he’s doing at the Giants because he was there just in a leadership advisory type role that’s going to be extended into some part-time assistant coaching with Mark McVeigh and also Dean Solomon.
“He’s getting some experience again at the coalface of coaching. The game moves all the time and he needs to pick up the speed of what’s taking place and the changes that have been implemented over the time that he hasn’t been involved.”
However, Watson believes a return to Essendon would not be a good idea for the former club captain.
“I wouldn’t think so,” Watson said.
“I don’t think that would be the right thing for him anyway.
“I would think that he would be wanting to go and coach somewhere else.”
Hird has stepped into an assistant coaching role under caretaker GWS coach Mark McVeigh.
The Giants meet West Coast at home this Sunday.