“Thank you to James for giving me the opportunity to speak today. Firstly I would like to congratulate him on the book, I have read it and it is a terrific read. I couldn’t help but think while I read it “has James revealed more about himself than what he actually anticipated when he first put pen to paper.
“I often use James as an example when I am talking to young people about the value of hard work, perseverance, self-denial, sacrifice and discipline. Although I count myself as a friend of James, I think in more recent times I have become a fan of the way he plays football like so many other people around the country.
“It would be fair to say that I have seen more naturally talented footballers walk the corridors at Windy Hill but I haven’t seen anyone get more out of their talent or strive harder for perfection than James Hird. It is often said in business that one generation creates wealth, the next consolidates and the third fritters it away. James is a third generation Essendon footballer, who despite seeing his family name emblazoned on the grandstand outside as he runs laps, the desire to be the best still drives him like it did his grandfather all those decades ago.
“I missed his first training session here due to the fact that I was probably to fit to be here for the first run after Christmas. But by the time I got back a couple of weeks later, word was already circulating that we had another Neale Daniher. For those who can remember, that was as higher praise as you could possibly receive among the players.
“I remember Bomber Thompson tell me that in a moment of madness Sheeds had called a contested practice match in the first session after the break. He always liked to test players early. Bomber Thompson said this kid Hird was as courageous as any young kid he had seen and he had become a fan immediately. Unfortunately James suffered a serious knee injury soon after and I only saw him running laps late at night and him pumping weights in the gym long after everyone else had left. He was always polite and always respectful, there were already those around him predicting he would one day skipper the club.
“The admiration was growing in all quarters because others were seeing how he was achieving this improvement. He was setting a new record at the club for borrowing footballs – and while must players who did this were rightfully accused of selling them, Hirdy was wearing them out smashing them against walls and honing his ability to gather a ball no matter what angle it came back at him. Today the ball seemingly melts into his hands and that is testament to the work he did back then.
“But as skillful as he is, I think what has won him over more than anything is his courage. I don’t believe it was his courage that caused the collision which injured his face earlier in the year. I think it was his sheer arrogance – you have no right on any football field to believe the ball you are heading in the same direction as is yours. It was a sickening blow – the kind that makes you want to turn your head away from the television.
“I was watching that match on Foxtel the other day. They went back to the footage of James being loaded into the ambulance and I couldn’t understand why it was taking so long for him to be loaded. This guy was obviously seriously injured but it seemed to be taking an eternity. I was at James’ place the other day and I saw these two European cars in the driveway. I couldn’t help but wonder if the time it was taking to load him into the ambulance was because James has never been in an Australian-built vehicle in his life and perhaps he saw a Ford logo on the back of the ambulance.
“In this book he talks about the incident and the recovery but I don’t think he actually comprehended the courage the rest of us felt it would take to return. The hardest man in the outer would have been moved by the way he attacked the ball in his first game back against the Western Bulldogs. But apart from the scull cap he wore to protect the bolts that were holding his forehead together, nothing had changed. I still find it remarkable that he was able to recommence his career so quickly -–placing any fear into the recesses of his recently battered mind.
Courage comes in other form as well – it is more than just putting your body in the way of impending danger. It is also about standing up for what you believe is right and speaking your mind – even if it is against the flow of current opinion
But for all of the above along with his beautiful family, his European cars and his Ralph Lauren clothing allowance he is in fact not perfect. After we won the flag in 1003 we went to New OIrleans on the end of season footy trip. I spent the night as Gavin Wanganeen’s chaperone, making sure that he had enough money to get from shop-tp shop and bar-to-bar. It was actually the first time that Gavin realised you had to hand over money to complete a transaction and it was a great source of frustration to him. Anyway we arrived at a Kareoke Bar late in the night just in time to see James Hird being thrown of a place by too burly guards, screaming to anyone that would listen “But I didn’t even get the chance to sing the chorus”. Fearful that James’ singing would strip the bar of any patrons, the manager had ordered he be removed. So there is one thing he can’t do – sing.
I admire James because he does seize the day and I know for him there are many more days for him to seize.
