Even though he’s received one of the most severe penalties in AFL history, James Hird is adamant he has not broken any rules.
As he starts his 12-month suspension over the supplements scandal, Hird has apologised for his involvement and the failures of governance which happened on his watch as Essendon coach.
But Hird remains adamant he has not broken the rules, and that he has been “unfairly dealt with” during the investigation.
“I didn’t break the rules … those charges have been dropped,” Hird told media on Wednesday.
“There’s a level of responsibility you have as a senior coach.
“There were things that went on at our football club last year that shouldn’t have happened and as senior coach I have to take some responsibility for what happened and not doing more to stop it.
“I am really sorry, dreadfully sorry, about what happened, that it (the club) had to go through this.”
Hird’s lawyer Julian Burnside described his client as heroic for falling on his sword on Tuesday night and accepting his ban.
As well as Hird’s suspension, Essendon were removed from this season’s finals, fined $2 million and stripped of draft picks for the next two years.
Burnside blasted the league over its handling of the matter.
“He (Hird) has been brutally maligned in the press over the past six months – I don’t know how he has managed to survive it – and he has wanted to show that he is not guilty of anything,” Burnside told 3AW.
“But against that, he wanted to do the right thing by the club and the game.
“I reckon what he did … was nothing short of heroic.”
But AFL lawyer Jeff Gleeson SC has hit back at Burnside.
“For Mr Burnside to say that James Hird has not pleaded guilty to anything and that in substance the charge was withdrawn is flat out wrong,” Gleeson told Fairfax Media.
“Anybody who wants to know what James Hird agreed he did should read the words from the signed document that have been publicly released.”
Essendon have confirmed Hird will be able to return to his job once his ban expires, with the added bonus of a contract extension until the end of 2016.
And his players want him back – Essendon captain Jobe Watson saying they still supported Hird.
“We want James to continue as coach,” he told Fox Sports.
“He has to decide if that’s something he wants to do.
“It’s sort of an unprecedented situation for someone to sit out for 12 months and then return.”
Hird wants assistant Mark Thompson, who copped a $30,000 fine from the AFL for his role in the saga, to step in as interim coach.
Thompson remains unsure whether he will take on the role, saying he needs time to think it over.
AFL Players’ Association chief executive Matt Finnis said the prospect of Essendon players taking legal action against the club couldn’t be ruled out.
He said the Bombers had compromised the careers, health and reputations of players and perhaps had breached their contractual obligations towards them.
Hird said it had been a trying time for everybody, especially the club’s players.
“Speaking to the players last night and speaking to them this morning, I think we’re all disappointed at the level of sanctions that have been put on the club.
“But we understand that some sanctions had to be placed on our club and it’s time to move on.
“From my point of view, it’s disappointing not to be coaching next year.
“But I should’ve known what was going on. I should’ve done more and I’m very disappointed that I didn’t.”