Lloyd denies backing Hird amid Bombers intrigue
Roger Vaughan and Justin Chadwick |
Essendon great Matthew Lloyd has strongly denied he is part of the push for James Hird to be the Bombers’ next AFL coach.
Brad Scott’s sacking last week, followed immediately by Hird’s declaration that he wants the job, has fuelled a media frenzy around the embattled club.
Kevin Sheedy and Michael Long have backed Hird to coach Essendon again. Media speculation has suggested Lloyd, now a media commentator, is also supporting Hird.
“I don’t know how I got dragged into that at all,” Lloyd said on the Nine Network’s Footy Classified program..
“I think James should be able to be part of the process. I’m not pro-James, I’m not against James, I just want James to be part of the process.
‘It they decide he’s not part of the process, so be it. I want Essendon to pick the best coach.
“The most tiring thing I’ve done in my media is talk about Essendon’s failings, year after year, time after time. So I want the best coach and I don’t care who it is.”
Caretaker Dean Solomon has shut off his social media amid the noise around who will be coach next season.
Solomon had his first experience in the Bombers hot seat on Sunday as Essendon slumped to a 30-point loss to West Coast in Perth.
The loss left Essendon (1-11) anchored to the bottom of the table.
Scott was sacked after the injury-plagued Bombers won just once in 24 games.
Solomon says he won’t consider putting his hand up for the role full-time while the season is still on, but it seems like the job is Hird’s to lose anyway after the Bombers legend made his interest public.
Some Bombers fans held up a ‘Bring Back Hird’ sign during Sunday’s game in Perth.
But the 1996 Brownlow medal winner is still a polarising figure among fans following his involvement in the club’s supplements saga, in which 34 Essendon players were found guilty of taking a banned substance during Hird’s first stint as coach.
Solomon said the talk surrounding a possible Hird return wouldn’t be a distraction.
“I honestly have shut down with all my social media or media looking into me,” Solomon said.
“I’ve sort of had to control what I can control, focus on what I can focus on, and that’s leading this club, and these staff members, and the players in the short term.
“So I don’t think it’s going to have any impact on me. And I can’t really speak on behalf of the players, but I’m sure we’re all locked into what we need to do right now.”
Solomon said it was a “tough week” following Scott’s axing, but he praised the way the players stayed connected as game day approached.
And the caretaker coach put his unique mark on the team by playing defender Ben McKay as a key forward.
Solomon said he was keen to continue with McKay in that role.
Key forward Archie May is set for a stint on the sidelines after dislocating his right shoulder, but Solomon expects Sam Durham (concussion) and Mason Redman (knee soreness) to return against Carlton at the MCG on Sunday.
AAP