This moment is the 28th of a virtual series presenting the Bombers' best 30 moments over 150 years, which fans can vote on for their chance to win prizes. Click here to view and vote, and see the schedule and prizes below.
They say a week is a long time in football, and for Essendon captain James Hird, this was rarely more evident than what played out in early April 2004.
Following a round two loss to St Kilda, the normally reserved Hird - in a midweek appearance on Channel 9’s The Footy Show - criticised field umpire Scott McLaren to the shock of host Eddie McGuire and Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy, who was watching the show from his home. Hird said that McLaren “hasn’t been our favourite umpire,” and went on to call the standard of umpiring in general during Essendon’s loss to the Saints as “disgraceful.”
For the first time in his career, Hird was heavily criticised in the media for his comments, and he was forced to publicly apologise to McLaren two days later. The fallout would continue the following week, after Essendon’s round three clash with the West Coast Eagles. Hird would be fined $20,000, Essendon received a $5000 fine, and Hird was also required to commit to three years as an umpires’ ambassador. He met with a “visibly upset” McLaren on the Tuesday after the West Coast game, and, to offset the umpire’s suggestion of legal action, Hird also apologised publicly on The Footy Show.
Certainly, the lead-in to the West Coast game was less than ideal. Hird later wrote, “From that Wednesday through to the Saturday I was upset and exhausted. It was all I could think about. I felt that if I played well, I would insulate myself a little from the criticism. I felt a huge weight of responsibility.”
Coming off two losses to Port Adelaide and St Kilda in the first two rounds, the Bombers jumped from the blocks at the Docklands to lead the Eagles by 30 points at quarter-time. Then, after Essendon still led by 14 points at half-time, the two teams played a scintillating third quarter, kicking 14 goals between them, with the Eagles drawing to within a point at the last change. Hird recalled, “I was having an alright game, but not a great one. In the last quarter I wanted to go all out and play my best footy.”
The scores were tied with a minute remaining in the match. Steve Alessio palmed the ball down to Hird in the centre, and he charged forward and bombed the ball long to Matthew Lloyd. The ball spilled to ground and a pack developed in Essendon’s right forward pocket. Remarkably, as players set themselves for the ball-up, Hird was allowed to drift unattended into the stoppage. Expert Channel 10 commentator, Robert Walls, warned, “If anybody’s going to get it, it will be James Hird.”
Sure enough, the ball spilled to Marc Bullen who looked up and saw Hird gliding past, tight on the boundary line. Bullen handballed to his captain and Hird, off two steps, snapped a brilliant, go-ahead goal. His instinctive kick on goal was no fluke, as Hird later explained. “I had practised incessantly from the right forward pocket at Windy Hill. On a good night, I might kick 18 out of 20.”
As the ball curled through for the winning goal, the 33,195 mostly Essendon supporters inside the stadium went crazy, and Hird couldn’t help but be caught up in the emotion. “I instantly thought, We’ve won the game! I was running towards the boundary, and was so excited that when I saw the bloke on the edge of the crowd, I just hugged him. God knows why I hugged him. I suppose it was like a pressure valve being released - out poured the emotion.”
That “bloke” was Bomber fan Drew Wilson, who later said, “It was, and remains, the biggest shock of my life.” Wilson was ball watching when “the next thing [Hird’s] standing next to me. I don’t remember him saying anything other than maybe a really loud ‘come on’.”
Essendon had won a thriller - 22.5 (137) to 20.11 (131) - and Hird had turned in a performance for the ages. He’d had 34 disposals, eight clearances, and kicked three crucial goals, and later reflected: “It was a dramatic, emotional way to end an extraordinary week.”
SCHEDULE OF MOMENTS
Round 1 (launching May 6) - 1872-1939
Round 2 (launching May 10) - 1940-1959
Round 3 (launching May 15) - 1960-1979
Round 4 (launching May 20) - 1980-1989
Round 5 (launching May 25) - 1990-1999
Round 6 (launching May 30) - 2000-2021
Round 7 (launching June 4) - Finals round
PRIZES
Round 1 – One 2022 merchandise pack, including an Essendon New Era Black on Black 9FORTY Snapback cap ($40) and an Essendon Heritage Bar Scarf ($30)
Round 2 – One Essendon Fibre of Football Scarf ($80)
Round 3 - One Essendon Football Club 150-year anniversary commemorative mosaic ($295)
Round 4 – One Essendon Football Club 150-year anniversary commemorative mosaic ($295)
Round 5 – One 2022 team-signed guernsey ($500)
Round 6 – One copy of the Red & Black Collection special 150th anniversary book ($329)
Round 7 – One copy of the Red & Black Collection special 150th anniversary book ($329) and one 2022 team-signed guernsey ($500)
