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Essendon coaching great Kevin Sheedy hopes James Hird will return to the AFL, saying his former captain deserves another chance.
AFL great Kevin Sheedy has backed his former Essendon captain James Hird to make a coaching comeback.
Four-time Bombers premiership coach Sheedy feels Hird has had enough punishment and would do well if given the chance to coach in the AFL again.
Sheedy's comments will reopen the wounds of the Essendon supplements debacle, which ultimately cost Hird his job as senior coach at the club.
The saga took a massive toll on the Brownlow Medallist and he spent time two years ago in a mental health facility.
"I'm not blaming anyone, but there is no way known he would have wished for what happened," Sheedy told the Herald Sun.
"And he has said sorry. How many times do you have to say sorry?
"I know people will jump at shadows because of what happened and that's unfortunate.
"But he is one of the most intelligent football thinkers I've met.
"I think he is prime, ready to coach at an AFL club (again)."
Sheedy also is certain to cause a stir among anti-doping critics with his assessment of the Essendon saga.
"I hate to say it again but there has never been a positive drugs test," he said.
The AFL booted Essendon out of the 2013 finals and banned Hird for 12 months, among other punishments, over the supplements scandal.
Hird returned as Essendon coach, but resigned during the 2015 season.
Eventually, 34 current and past Essendon players served WADA-imposed doping bans that gutted the club in 2016.
Hird, who won the 2000 Norm Smith Medal, presented the award at the 2017 grand final.
He was linked to a potential opposition analysis role last March at Fremantle, but it did not happen.
Sheedy said if Hird returned to an AFL club he would be ready.
"I've got no doubt if he had his head wrapped around a good club, and a good club which needed help, I would back him in," he said.
"He is not a person who will lose twice.
"Yes he got his fingers burnt by not doing an (assistant coaching) apprenticeship, but he has ended up doing the toughest apprenticeship I've ever known of any former champion.
"I think if a (Stephen) Dank walked into the club now, he would know what to do."
