This was published 15 years ago
Hird leads again
New coach James Hird has always been a leader at Essendon.
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James Hird (fourth from left) and Mark Thompson, right celebrate winning the 1993 grand final with Essendon.Credit:
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James Hird in 1995.Credit:
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Captain James Hird holding 2000 premership cup.Credit:John French
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Premiership ccaptain, September 2000. Credit:ALLSPORT
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1993 premiership team reunion lunch, 2003.Credit:Getty Images
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2000: celebrating a comprehensive grand final win over Melbourne.Credit:ALLSPORT
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Essendon's James Hird in marks in front of Bulldog Ryan Griifin in 2006, his second-last season.Credit:Sebastian Costanzo
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Courage and skill at Waverley Park.Credit:
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James Hird fans line up to cheer him on before his celebration match, 2006.Credit:Vince Caligiuri
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Hird always had a superior ability to read the play. Credit:Ryan Pierse
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Surrounded by family after his last game, September 1 2007. Credit:Sebastian Costanzo
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Essendon did not enjoy having a low-prorile coach. Credit:Craig Abraham
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Kevin Sheedy and James Hird leave the MCG for the last time as Essendon coach and player.Credit:Pat Scala
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Saying goodbye with departing coach Kevin Sheedy, round 21, 2007, MCG. Credit:John Donegan
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Essendon's James Hird heads out for his last game, September 1 2007. Credit:Sebastian Costanzo
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Feted with former North Melbourne great Glenn Archer 24th March 2008.Credit:Vince Caligiuri
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Emotional departure, with Kevin Sheedy, round 22, 2007, Subiaco Oval. Credit:Sebastian Costanzo
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With Eddie Maguire at the 2007 Melbourne Cup.Credit:John Woudstra
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James Hird and Gerard Healy from On The Couch.Credit:Fox Sport
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Amongst the players he will now boss around, June 2010. Credit:Craig Abraham