Strengths: Hird has an endless list of strengths. His leadership, fitness, skill level, poise, courage, determination, hunger, spirit, vision and football smarts make him the complete player. It is hard to distinguish one strength from another because all these attributes combine to make him the quality player he is. One strength that often goes unnoticed but is extremely valuable to the Essendon team is Hird’s ability to bring out the best in his teammates. They all seem to walk taller knowing their captain is out on the field with them.
Position: Hird has the ability to play in numerous positions. It doesn't really matter where you put him he will always be a significant contributor. He spent much of last season starting up forward before moving into the mid-field when he saw fit. He is a magnificent on-baller who produced some sensational quarters last season. His courage is unquestioned and his skill and reading of the play is excellent. He just seems to always find plenty of the ball and you can expect him to play a similar role in 2003.
2003: According to fitness coach John Quinn, fitness wise Hird is in the best shape he has seen him in. He is leading or close to the top in every fitness test whether it is speed or strength. Hird turned 30 in February, but age is definitely not slowing the skipper down. He is an integral part of the Essendon line-up and his ability to play forward, back or in the middle makes him dangerous to opposition teams. An exciting thought for Bomber fans to think about – have we seen the best of James Hird yet?
Kevin Sheedy says: Obviously after last year’s injury nobody will ever doubt Hirdy’s courage. He has trained sensationally over summer and we look forward to having him on the field for 90% of our games. He has still got great footy ahead of him. He never ceases to demonstrate great leadership by example to the team and never was this more evident than his first game back after that horrific injury when he never missed a hard ball.
The champions are not all on the field either; the surgical and medical staff on duty at the Sir Charles Gardiner Hospital in Perth the night he was admitted are champions too. We should never forget what they did for Hirdy and in turn his family and this club. In fact, we should never underestimate the contribution the medical fraternity make at all clubs. Hirdy should be inspired by Steve Waugh’s career, between age 29 and 37 it is all attitude and hunger
