‘I can’t see anyone going for this job’: Simpson’s brutal call on Essendon process as Hird looms large

West Coast premiership coach Adam Simpson has cast doubt on Essendon’s selection process for their next coach, while former Sydney counterpart John Longmire has kept an open mind after James Hird’s public declaration for the job.

Backing up the thoughts of former Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley, who said earlier on Wednesday he would not apply for the Essendon job while it appeared Hird was the frontrunner, Simpson said Essendon needed to provide clarity on their process and “get that sorted”.

“At the moment ... I’m not sure if this is planned or not. It feels like it might be,” said Simpson, when asked on AFL 360 about whether he thought the race had one person in it – Hird.

Simpson said it appeared Essendon’s search would be a “one-man process”.

“What are they doing? It will be a one-man process at the moment. I can’t see anyone going for this job,” added the Eagles’ 2018 flag-winning coach.

“Going for a job where you know there’s an inside running happening – I went for the Brisbane job [and Justin] Leppitsch got it.

“I thought I’ll back myself in ... but I didn’t realise Leigh Matthews was his [Leppitsch’s] mentor. I think Leigh might have been on the panel.

“I don’t say it [the Brisbane process] was a boat race but, when I left, it I was like, ‘OK, how did that feel?’

“I really enjoyed the experience, but looking at it now it would be difficult to run for that [Essendon] position until they get that sorted. I think Ken [Hinkley] nailed it today.”

“That was no disrespect to Leigh or ‘Leppa’, that’s just what happened. It could well have been a very well-run process, in fact I think it was. But this [the Hird situation] feels that times 10.

“I’m not speaking on behalf of every coach, or assistant coach ... but how I feel about is [that] it would be difficult to go through that process when it doesn’t feel like it’s an even playing field.”

But Sydney’s 2012 premiership coach Longmire said he was seeking more information about Essendon’s plans to find a replacement for Brad Scott.

“I think, as always, we just need to rather than skip ahead of it, let’s see how it plays out,” Longmire said on the program.

Asked specifically if he thought the process would be compromised, Longmire replied: “I think that’s probably a bit of a strong word.”

Also speaking on AFL 360, Andrew Dillon was asked if the AFL would hold any reservations of Hird returning to the Essendon senior coaching role that he held from 2011 to 2013, and again in 2015.

“What people sometimes overlook is that James had a year off and came back and coached the Bombers in 2015,” the AFL CEO said.

“He’s been an assistant coach at the GWS Giants since that time, and even at the moment he’s got an active role with Port Melbourne in the VFL. He’s part of football at the moment. Ultimately, it’ll be a decision that the Essendon footy club board will make.

“I spoke to the chief executive [of the Bombers, Tim Roberts] yesterday and it [the prospect of Hird returning] didn’t even come up.”

Essendon are being called on to publicly declare whether they want Hird to his former role amid concerns his high-profile candidacy will deter other candidates.

Bombers great Matthew Lloyd also warned his former premiership teammate’s interest would scare off others from entering the race.

Hird, 53, said after Brad Scott’s axing on Tuesday that he would love to coach Essendon again, more than a decade after his turbulent stint at the helm ended.

Hird’s decision to declare his interest has sparked a fierce debate over whether he should be part of a selection process (as he was in 2022 when he lost out to Scott), having been suspended for 12 months by the AFL for his role in the supplements scandal that crippled the club.

Overall, he won 41 of 85 games as coach between 2011 and 2015.

Hinkley, who was previously offered a director of coaching role at Essendon, on Wednesday urged the Bombers to clarify their stance on Hird.

“It looks like it’s somewhat James Hird’s job … they need to clear the air with that first,” Hinkley said on SEN.

“I don’t think anyone would be prepared to be in the race too deep, unless in some ways you are involved in Essendon with their history. That [clarification] would be important to me.

“It looks like James Hird and then someone else. They have every right to do that, and that’s their call.”

Lloyd described Hird as “the most loved person in the history of the Essendon Football Club”, but also acknowledged fans were divided on whether he should return as coach.

“The hard part is … James is going to scare off a lot [of potential candidates],” Lloyd told Nine News.

“Does the club come out and say he’s in the process or out of the process to get their best candidate? Because it’s going to be difficult for them, because too many won’t want to go for the job.”

Asked whether the Bombers would clarify their position on Hird, a club spokesman pointed to president Andrew Welsh’s comments on Tuesday, when he said the Bombers would run an open process.

“We are not ruling anyone in or anyone out. I am sure there will be a lot of people interested in this role,” Welsh said.

Lloyd said he was confident Hird could galvanise the club but also acknowledged he had not led an AFL program since 2015. Since leaving Essendon he has worked in advisory and part-time football roles, and is now director of coaching at VFL club Port Melbourne. He is also a panelist on Footy Classified on Nine, owner of this masthead.

“He hasn’t been at AFL level for 10 or 11 years versus someone coaching for the last 10 to 15 years, so they are the cons of James,” Lloyd said.

Chris Scott fielded two questions on Wednesday about his twin brother’s demise at Essendon, but dead-batted each. “I just don’t talk about these things publicly,” the Geelong coach said.

He was also asked whether Hird could step into the top role having not been a senior coach for more than a decade. “I think it’d be a question for that person and that prospective club to answer. I couldn’t do it,” he said.

Essendon coaching legend Kevin Sheedy said Hird would not waste a third chance to coach the club.

Sheedy, who as a Bombers board director four years ago and publicly confirmed he backed Hird when Scott won the job, said Hird could galvanise the struggling Bombers.

“I think he’ll do anything to make sure he gets this right this time around, if he ever gets it,” Sheedy said.

“But he may not get it, there might be people at Essendon that may never want him to coach Essendon. I don’t know who they are, but I think, in the end, the people and the fans most likely do.

“I don’t know what the sort of feeling is around town, but I would think that if he got a chance, he wouldn’t muck this one up. ”

Hird said on Tuesday night he wanted the Bombers to run an “exhaustive process”.

“If the club came to me [and said]: ‘Would you be part of that process?’ I would definitely say yes. That is something I would love to be part of – pit my wares against the other coaches [to find] the best man for the job,” he said on Footy Classified.

“If I’m the best man for the job, yes I would love to do that job, but If I’m not, choose the best man and let’s go forward with this club and make it the best club in the AFL again.”

Dean Solomon, a 2000 premiership Bomber, will be interim coach, with former defender Michael Hurley stepping up from a development role to replace Solomon as defensive coach, the Bombers confirmed on Wednesday.

Scott, in an interview on the AFL website, said his successor would have the advantage of a $3 million war chest to help advance a deep rebuild which has contributed to the Bombers winning only one of their past 24 games.

“We have built a war chest over the last three years of dry powder in the salary cap, it’s going to be really exciting for the football club,” Scott said.

“To have well in excess of $3 million of dry powder to go and acquire players, that’s something that, in the short term, [we could have said]: ‘Gee, we have got to win three or four more games in a year’, [so] you just go and recruit some players at other clubs that are underpaid and bring them in and look for a short-term fix.

“I was never going to be a part of that. And, if the club wanted to go down that path, I would have stepped aside because I don’t believe in that.”

Scott claimed the club’s list boss Matt Rosa and his department believed the Bombers could challenge for a flag within two years.

“I think in pure demographics, I think the list management team, led very well by Matt Rosa, would think that they are probably a year or two away from being genuine contenders, but the job of a coach is to exceed and accelerate that timeline,” Scott said.

Sheedy said he would help Hird, should the 253-game great return to the club.

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