'Holding him back': Matthew Lloyd's advice for James Hird as senior coaching return intentions hinted
With former Essendon coach James Hird seemingly keen to explore a return to senior AFL coaching, Matthew Lloyd believes he must first return to clubland in order to earn a top job.
Hird coached the Bombers between 2011 and 2015, but resigned amid the fallout from the club's supplements saga.
One of Essendon's greatest ever players, he spent a number of years out of the game before dipping his toe back in the water in 2022.
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James Hird in the Essendon rooms in 2025. AFL Photos via Getty Images
Hird joined GWS as a part-time assistant coach for that season, but only spent one year with the club.
He has since taken up a role with Port Melbourne in the VFL, serving as their director of coaching.
When asked by former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire what he would choose to do if he had his pick of all possible jobs he has had in his life so far, Hird said senior coaching was the clear choice.
"You'd absolutely be a senior AFL coach, you would," Hird told Nine's Footy Classified on Tuesday.
"If you love coaching, the passion for coaching and putting a team together is the highest thrill you can get outside of playing."
James Hird at the VFL awards in 2025. AFL Photos via Getty Images
But Lloyd, who played most of his career alongside Hird, believes the path back may be a long one, given his time out of the AFL coaching system.
He believes the 53-year-old should return to the ranks and serve as an assistant coach to get his feet back under him.
"I'd like to see James go back into the AFL coaching system," Lloyd told 3AW on Friday night.
"I think then he would get a (senior coaching) job within a couple of years, in my opinion.
"But I'm not sure being out there (in the VFL) at Port Melbourne, whether that's holding him back.
"I think if he went in and did a Michael Voss, who worked under Ken Hinkley at Port Adelaide for a few years, he would get another opportunity, I think."
Matthew Lloyd and Dustin Fletcher. AFL Photos via Getty Images
The move would be similar to what Collingwood great Nathan Buckley has done in 2026.
After a few years in the media, he took a role at Geelong serving as an assistant coach under Chris Scott.
Buckley has his eyes firmly on the inaugural Tassie Devils coaching role.
Voss meanwhile joined Port Adelaide in 2015 after being sacked as coach of Brisbane, working as an assistant coach under Ken Hinkley until getting the Carlton job at the end of 2021.
