James Hird

James Albert Hird is a former professional Australian rules football player and past senior coach of the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League. Hird played as a midfielder and half-forward, but he was often given free rein by then-Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy to play wherever he thought necessary. Hird was a highly decorated footballer, with accolades including the 1996 Brownlow Medal and membership of the Australian Football Hall of Fame.