Asked how he thought his former premiership teammate James Hird had handled his first season as Essendon coach, Bombers' champion Michael Long paused.
Then, after some thought: ""He's doing a great job""
But he was only just warming up. Long followed the statement like a friend of 20 years might, with a subtle, cheeky dig, before telling Hird – and the world – what he really thinks of the 38-year-old's short tenure back at the club.
""I actually sent 'Hirdy' a text about a month ago. I don’t know if he got it, I must have sent it to the wrong number… thanks for the response, Hirdy,"" Long said with a wry smile to a laughing Hird and media group.
But Long had more than a few cheap laughs up his sleeve. He's always been more than you might think- as a player he was not only flashy and brilliant, but was tough and driven. As a person, he was not just a player, but a pioneer.
He was a trailblazer in the Australian game in eradicating racism from football fields. His legacy as an indigenous player continues to grow. Hird described him as ""a very special individual in football and society.""
And, after the opening gag, Long was just as complimentary about Hird.
""You see where the club has come in the last six months, and it takes a person like Hirdy' to do what he's done to bring the calibre of people [back to the club],"" Long said.
""He's brought the soul of Essendon back to Essendon. This club has a rich history and a rich culture, and I totally take my hat off to James.""
""A club that we both love; I commend James on what he's done. I think that's something [shared] from supporters to players and past players, and something that James has created. I think that's fantastic, mate,"" he said, looking at Hird.
The words clearly surprised, and humbled, Hird, who was immediately asked for his response.
""I wish you guys (the media) weren't here when he said it, it's a bit embarrassing, really,"" Hird said.
""We've spent some special times together and I think there's a lot of respect both ways. It's great to hear that. It's not only premierships and wins and losses, but there's a lot of hard times and good times at a footy club, and I probably shared all of them with Michael. It's good to be sitting here [with him] today.""
Long and Hird share a bond that started when Hird arrived at Essendon in 1992, as a 19-year-old. They played in the 1993 premiership together, when Long was named the Norm Smith medallist, and again were teammates in 2000 when Hird captained the Bombers to another premiership, and was awarded the Norm Smith Medal.
Long was also named stand-in captain of Essendon in 1999 in Hird's absence with a foot injury, and almost led the club to a Grand Final. He retired at the end of 2001 having played 190 games, after making his debut in 1989.
His comments, though, were less an attack on the previous Essendon coach than a clear affection for the current one. The club hadn't lost its identity – ""I think you never lose your soul,"" Long said – but the return of past players as coaches had heartened Long.
""Having a lot of the past players come back here, I think it really reflects their passion that they wanted to come back and lift this club to a level it should be at,"" Long said.
Long, of course, was at the press conference to talk broader and bigger things than Essendon, namely the annual Dreamtime at the 'G clash with Richmond on Saturday night. Before it, he will again lead The Long Walk from Federation Square to the MCG.
The game has grown in significance, he says, since it first started in 2005.
""It's a week I really love,"" the 40-year-old said.
There was also a sense that he really loved being back at Essendon. The press conference lasted 18 minutes – about triple the length of an average one – and it was full of laughs, smiles and backslaps, as well as a sincerity entirely fit for the occasion.
Then, after some thought: ""He's doing a great job""
But he was only just warming up. Long followed the statement like a friend of 20 years might, with a subtle, cheeky dig, before telling Hird – and the world – what he really thinks of the 38-year-old's short tenure back at the club.
""I actually sent 'Hirdy' a text about a month ago. I don’t know if he got it, I must have sent it to the wrong number… thanks for the response, Hirdy,"" Long said with a wry smile to a laughing Hird and media group.
But Long had more than a few cheap laughs up his sleeve. He's always been more than you might think- as a player he was not only flashy and brilliant, but was tough and driven. As a person, he was not just a player, but a pioneer.
He was a trailblazer in the Australian game in eradicating racism from football fields. His legacy as an indigenous player continues to grow. Hird described him as ""a very special individual in football and society.""
And, after the opening gag, Long was just as complimentary about Hird.
""You see where the club has come in the last six months, and it takes a person like Hirdy' to do what he's done to bring the calibre of people [back to the club],"" Long said.
""He's brought the soul of Essendon back to Essendon. This club has a rich history and a rich culture, and I totally take my hat off to James.""
""A club that we both love; I commend James on what he's done. I think that's something [shared] from supporters to players and past players, and something that James has created. I think that's fantastic, mate,"" he said, looking at Hird.
The words clearly surprised, and humbled, Hird, who was immediately asked for his response.
""I wish you guys (the media) weren't here when he said it, it's a bit embarrassing, really,"" Hird said.
""We've spent some special times together and I think there's a lot of respect both ways. It's great to hear that. It's not only premierships and wins and losses, but there's a lot of hard times and good times at a footy club, and I probably shared all of them with Michael. It's good to be sitting here [with him] today.""
Long and Hird share a bond that started when Hird arrived at Essendon in 1992, as a 19-year-old. They played in the 1993 premiership together, when Long was named the Norm Smith medallist, and again were teammates in 2000 when Hird captained the Bombers to another premiership, and was awarded the Norm Smith Medal.
Long was also named stand-in captain of Essendon in 1999 in Hird's absence with a foot injury, and almost led the club to a Grand Final. He retired at the end of 2001 having played 190 games, after making his debut in 1989.
His comments, though, were less an attack on the previous Essendon coach than a clear affection for the current one. The club hadn't lost its identity – ""I think you never lose your soul,"" Long said – but the return of past players as coaches had heartened Long.
""Having a lot of the past players come back here, I think it really reflects their passion that they wanted to come back and lift this club to a level it should be at,"" Long said.
Long, of course, was at the press conference to talk broader and bigger things than Essendon, namely the annual Dreamtime at the 'G clash with Richmond on Saturday night. Before it, he will again lead The Long Walk from Federation Square to the MCG.
The game has grown in significance, he says, since it first started in 2005.
""It's a week I really love,"" the 40-year-old said.
There was also a sense that he really loved being back at Essendon. The press conference lasted 18 minutes – about triple the length of an average one – and it was full of laughs, smiles and backslaps, as well as a sincerity entirely fit for the occasion.
