Participants from the James Hird Academy will form a Guard of Honour for Essendon players as they enter the arena for Saturday night’s match against Gold Coast at Etihad Stadium.

Launched in 2010, the James Hird Academy was established by the Essendon Football Club aiming to identify, attract and develop young players from non-traditional regions, international zones and father/son opportunities.

The names Hird, Fletcher, Neagle, Alessio and Ramanauskas will be a part of the Guard of Honour as the team runs onto the field.
Essendon list manager Adrian Dodoro said the Academy has been set up to provide inspiration for potential father/son recruits to chase their football dream.

“Basically what we have done is we have embraced our past players and their sons and set up this Academy so that they can develop and see the club where their father’s have played,” Dodoro said.

“The purpose of it is to give the young guys the inspiration of fulfilling their dreams to play AFL football.”

Current members of the James Hird Academy include Jake Long (son of Michael), Daniel Thompson (son of Mark), Todd Vander Harr (son of Paul) and Tom Wallis (son of Dean).

Dodoro said it was important for the club to continue to embrace its past players with the Academy a great initiative to do so.

“It is vitally important that we embrace our past and this has been a great vehicle in bringing past players back to the club,” he said.

“It is going to give the little one’s something to look forward to in the school holidays and for the guys in their teens who are taking their footy serious then we can really assist them.”

“One of the most satisfying things was seeing Merv Neagle around the club watching his boys in the James Hird Academy at the functions, training sessions and the camps.”

“Obviously Merv’s passing last year was devastating to everyone at the club but the one small thing that we can gain soleus from is that he was at the club.”

Click here to read more about the James Hird Academy.