The word from Hird

Regular readers will know that AussieRulesBlog supports Essendon, but we pride ourselves on our ability to comment on issues without our allegiance muddying our view.

 

That said, statements by Essendon coach James Hird at the press conference following the Bombers’ (magnificent) fighting victory over Fremantle last night are worthy of further comment.

 

We suspect few would raise an eyebrow in surprise if told that John Elliot or Graeme Richmond had crashed through the rules whilst seeking an advantage for their respective clubs.

 

James Hird, and Essendon Chairman David Evans and CEO Ian Robson for that matter, are cut from different cloth.

 

Hird’s calm and measured statement at his press conference:

 

"People say things, and you know they're untrue, and you know you've got truth on your side, you go hard, and when you get your opportunity you tell the whole truth.”
"When the truth comes out, I think I'll be in a very, very good position and so will this football club.”

doesn’t allow for misinterpretation. It’s absolutely unequivocal.

 

All of which makes the statements by AFL Chief Executive Andrew Demetriou on Hird in recent days seem rather strange.

 

It has been conventional wisdom that Demetriou has some reasonable knowledge of the issues being investigated by the Australian Crime Commission, and in Essendon’s case by the AFL itself and ASADA. That view can no longer be supported. Demetriou is, like the rest of us, merely a passenger on the journey.

 

It appears it may be August before there’s a resolution following the investigations. The only thing that’s certain is that certain “journalists” will maintain their habit of allowing rumour, innuendo, suspicion and hyperbole to be the basis for their poison pen letters.