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Forget all you've heard of Hird
April 27, 2004
Essendon's captain was a class act long before two games in which he has raised the bar, writes Richard Hinds. The Swans must find someone to shackle him.
The crowd of 57,000 at the annual Anzac Day fixture between Collingwood and Essendon on Sunday was evenly divided. There were those who had come to worship James Hird and those who left uttering grudging words of praise after yet another virtuoso performance by one of the most gifted and versatile players of this or any era.
There were also two men among the throng with a slightly different perspective. Free of their match-day responsibilities, Swans coach Paul Roos and assistant John Longmire could admire Hird's work. But they also faced the taxing task of devising a plan to shut down the Bombers captain at the MCG on Saturday.
Hird entered this season with a Brownlow Medal, two premiership medallions and nothing to prove. Yet, leading a team more reliant on his output than ever, Hird's impact in recent weeks has been astounding.
First, he pulled a game from West Coast's grip by kicking the match-winning goal with one of 15 final-quarter disposals - a performance more amazing for the controversy that had surrounded his public criticism of an umpire two days earlier. On Sunday he roamed from position to position, starting fires at one end and putting them out at the other.
Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy was moved yesterday to describe Hird as the greatest player he had coached, a significant statement given the string of stars he has guided through 22 years and four premierships. "He's probably nailed [Tim] Watson, [Simon] Madden and [Michael] Long and he's still got a way to go," said Sheedy.
Perhaps not eager to eulogise an impending opponent, Roos was less effusive in his praise. "When you look at it there are probably 15 to 20 genuine superstars in the competition," he says. "Hird is certainly in the elite and then you have to think about where he sits in that elite.
"But he's playing some great football at the moment."
As a scouting mission, Roos's expedition to the MCG will have proven valuable. Last year Hird was injured and missed the Bombers' only match against the Swans - a 54-point Sydney victory at Telstra Stadium.
On Sunday, however, Roos saw Hird's full repertoire as he picked apart the Magpies. At times he floated forward and eventually kicked three goals. In the second quarter he moved back to bail out a leaky defence. And when required he ploughed into the midfield, where the Bombers were being cleaned out in the centre-square clearances.
Strong overhead yet superb below his knees, it is that versatility that makes Hird such a difficult player to counter. Collingwood tried multiple opponents. Athletic defender James Clement had the job when Hird was in attack and midfielder Shane Woewodin ran with him in the centre. Eventually, Hird chose his own opponent, attempting to outbustle young midfielder Mark McGough, who was dominating in the centre square.
"He's a bit like Goodesy [Adam Goodes] in that way," Roos said. "It's pretty hard to find one player to match up on him so you might have to use a few."
But the risk of using two or more opponents on Hird is that he will shake himself free by continually moving around the ground. As Roos observed, the Essendon skipper seems to have a licence to go where he wants depending on the circumstances - and he uses that licence wisely.
"I think the problem Collingwood had was that, using a few opponents, they lost him a bit in transition [between positions]," Roos said. "He's so clever with the way he uses the ball, if you give him any space he is going to kill you."
In the past, defender Jason Saddington and retired midfielder Daryn Cresswell had been asked to mind Hird in attack or on the ball - though not with great success. In 2000, Hird's fine last quarter averted a possible upset by the Swans over the undefeated Bombers at the SCG, and the following season he dominated again.
Former coach Rodney Eade predicts tagger Brett Kirk will be given the job this time. "[Hird] is smart because when he has an opponent he can exploit he'll move around to make a mismatch," Eade said. "He might go forward and they'll switch opponents and he'll move straight back into the midfield before they can change back."
As they hatch their plans for Saturday, the Swans might be sobered by the thought Hird rated his 26 disposals and three goals on Sunday as just satisfactory, or heartened by the fact he was disappointed his opponents also got plenty of possessions. Indeed, Hird said he was ordered by Sheedy to be more accountable.
However, Hird's incredible touch makes him far more damaging with the ball than most, while his chasing, smothering and body work at the centre bounce can be inspirational.
Then there is his mental strength. At the height of the media storm surrounding his derogatory comments about umpire Scott McLaren, Hird said his house was staked out and he was pursued in his car by television crews. Yet he produced perhaps his greatest quarter of football.
The Swans have done their homework. Now they can only hope that Kirk, or someone else, can curb the AFL's golden boy
Forget all you've heard of Hird
April 27, 2004
Essendon's captain was a class act long before two games in which he has raised the bar, writes Richard Hinds. The Swans must find someone to shackle him.
The crowd of 57,000 at the annual Anzac Day fixture between Collingwood and Essendon on Sunday was evenly divided. There were those who had come to worship James Hird and those who left uttering grudging words of praise after yet another virtuoso performance by one of the most gifted and versatile players of this or any era.
There were also two men among the throng with a slightly different perspective. Free of their match-day responsibilities, Swans coach Paul Roos and assistant John Longmire could admire Hird's work. But they also faced the taxing task of devising a plan to shut down the Bombers captain at the MCG on Saturday.
Hird entered this season with a Brownlow Medal, two premiership medallions and nothing to prove. Yet, leading a team more reliant on his output than ever, Hird's impact in recent weeks has been astounding.
First, he pulled a game from West Coast's grip by kicking the match-winning goal with one of 15 final-quarter disposals - a performance more amazing for the controversy that had surrounded his public criticism of an umpire two days earlier. On Sunday he roamed from position to position, starting fires at one end and putting them out at the other.
Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy was moved yesterday to describe Hird as the greatest player he had coached, a significant statement given the string of stars he has guided through 22 years and four premierships. "He's probably nailed [Tim] Watson, [Simon] Madden and [Michael] Long and he's still got a way to go," said Sheedy.
Perhaps not eager to eulogise an impending opponent, Roos was less effusive in his praise. "When you look at it there are probably 15 to 20 genuine superstars in the competition," he says. "Hird is certainly in the elite and then you have to think about where he sits in that elite.
"But he's playing some great football at the moment."
As a scouting mission, Roos's expedition to the MCG will have proven valuable. Last year Hird was injured and missed the Bombers' only match against the Swans - a 54-point Sydney victory at Telstra Stadium.
On Sunday, however, Roos saw Hird's full repertoire as he picked apart the Magpies. At times he floated forward and eventually kicked three goals. In the second quarter he moved back to bail out a leaky defence. And when required he ploughed into the midfield, where the Bombers were being cleaned out in the centre-square clearances.
Strong overhead yet superb below his knees, it is that versatility that makes Hird such a difficult player to counter. Collingwood tried multiple opponents. Athletic defender James Clement had the job when Hird was in attack and midfielder Shane Woewodin ran with him in the centre. Eventually, Hird chose his own opponent, attempting to outbustle young midfielder Mark McGough, who was dominating in the centre square.
"He's a bit like Goodesy [Adam Goodes] in that way," Roos said. "It's pretty hard to find one player to match up on him so you might have to use a few."
But the risk of using two or more opponents on Hird is that he will shake himself free by continually moving around the ground. As Roos observed, the Essendon skipper seems to have a licence to go where he wants depending on the circumstances - and he uses that licence wisely.
"I think the problem Collingwood had was that, using a few opponents, they lost him a bit in transition [between positions]," Roos said. "He's so clever with the way he uses the ball, if you give him any space he is going to kill you."
In the past, defender Jason Saddington and retired midfielder Daryn Cresswell had been asked to mind Hird in attack or on the ball - though not with great success. In 2000, Hird's fine last quarter averted a possible upset by the Swans over the undefeated Bombers at the SCG, and the following season he dominated again.
Former coach Rodney Eade predicts tagger Brett Kirk will be given the job this time. "[Hird] is smart because when he has an opponent he can exploit he'll move around to make a mismatch," Eade said. "He might go forward and they'll switch opponents and he'll move straight back into the midfield before they can change back."
As they hatch their plans for Saturday, the Swans might be sobered by the thought Hird rated his 26 disposals and three goals on Sunday as just satisfactory, or heartened by the fact he was disappointed his opponents also got plenty of possessions. Indeed, Hird said he was ordered by Sheedy to be more accountable.
However, Hird's incredible touch makes him far more damaging with the ball than most, while his chasing, smothering and body work at the centre bounce can be inspirational.
Then there is his mental strength. At the height of the media storm surrounding his derogatory comments about umpire Scott McLaren, Hird said his house was staked out and he was pursued in his car by television crews. Yet he produced perhaps his greatest quarter of football.
The Swans have done their homework. Now they can only hope that Kirk, or someone else, can curb the AFL's golden boy
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