AFL 2002 Rd 5 - Collingwood v Essendon

25 Apr 2002: James Hird #5 for Essendon shakes hands with Nathan Buckley #5 for Collingwood, after the Round 5 AFL Anzac Day Match between the Colllingwood Magpies and the Essendon Bombers, played at the MCG, Melbourne, Australia. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Hamish Blair/Getty Images

AFL Round 2 - Essendon v Fremantle

Aaron Sandilands of Fremantle wins the tap in front of David Hille of Essendon while Mark Johnson, Henry Slattery and James Hird of Essendon and Paul Hasleby of Fremantle look on during the Round 2 AFL match between the Essendon Bombers and Fremantle Dockers at the Telstra Dome.

AFL Round 2 - Essendon v Fremantle

James Hird and Mark Johnson of Essendon celebrate after the Round 2 AFL match between the Essendon Bombers and Fremantle Dockers at the Telstra Dome.

AFL Round 2 - Essendon v Fremantle

Matthew Lloyd (L) and James Hird (R) celebrate after the Round 2 AFL match between the Essendon Bombers and Fremantle Dockers at the Telstra Dome.

AFL Round 2 - Essendon v Fremantle

(L-R) Angus Monfries, Matthew Lloyd and James Hird of Essendon sing the club song after the Round 2 AFL match between the Essendon Bombers and Fremantle Dockers at the Telstra Dome.

AFL 2012 Training - Essendon Training

Head Coach James Hird looks on during an Essendon Bombers training session at Windy Hill in Melbourne. (Photo: Lachlan Cunningham/AFL Media)

AFL 1999 Rd 1 - Essendon v Carlton

James Hird for Essendon in action during the round one AFL match between the Essendon Bombers and the Carlton Blues at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on March 25, 1999.

AFL 2002 Rd 1 - Essendon v Geelong

David Johnson of the Cats writhes in pain as James Hird of the Boimbers looks on during the round one AFL match between the Geelong Cats and the Essendon Bombers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia on March 30, 2002.

AFL 2002 Rd 1 - Essendon v Geelong

James Hird of the Bombers spills a mark over Cameron Ling of the Cats during the round one AFL match between the Geelong Cats and the Essendon Bombers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia on March 30, 2002.

AFL 2002 Rd 1 - Essendon v Geelong

Matthew Lloyd and James Hird of the Bombers chat in the rooms as team mate Joe Misiti looks on after the round one AFL match between the Geelong Cats and the Essendon Bombers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia on March 30, 2002.

AFL 2002 Rd 15 - West Coast v Essendon

James Hird of the Bombers walks onto the ground since sustaining his head injury before the round 15 AFL match between the West Coast Eagles and the Essendon Bombers at the Subiaco Oval in Perth, Australia on July 14, 2002.

AFL 2010 Media - Essendon Coach Announcement