The coaching panel have also used Hird in defence this season. Against Geelong in round 13 he gave the side run out of defence and was successful in rebounding the Cats forward attacks. In round 14 against St.Kilda he started forward and created headaches for the Saints defence from the opening bounce. He had three opponents in the first quarter. There is no question that Hird is handy in any position on the ground, the tough question is where does the team get the most value from him playing.
The Essendon match committee continue to use Hird in different positions on the ground, but if the Essendon supporters were consulted, the coaches would be told to play the captain in the mid-field. 63% of BomberLand users voted in last week’s 3 poll that Hird should play on the ball. 24% said the 1996 Brownlow Medallist should play in defence and only 13% of voters believe the best place for Hird to play is in the forwardline. Remember to vote each week in the Weekly Poll because one lucky voter will receive two finals' series tickets which includes two tickets to the 2003 Grand Final.
This is what some Essendon fans had to say:
Charles Spicar from Werribee says: James is an inspirational leader at the Essendon Football Club and has led the team admirably over the years. However, against top 4 oppositions he has struggled for form as he is generally tagged by top opposition. This is why l'd like to seem him weave his magic in defence, free of the shackles of constant attention.
Sam Gray from Kings Meadows says: James Hird should play in the midfield this week. When Essendon lose possession for a while he goes in and gives others around him confidence.
Maureen Cooper from Sebastopol says: I feel James plays best when he is free to roam to wherever he is needed. Apart from anything else it makes it hard for opposition to know who to play on him
Dean Miller from Gladstone Park says: Start Hird in the mid field than move him to were he is needed the most.. Can Danny Jacobs please play tighter. We mush tackle this mob very hard .
Dimmi from Caulfield: I am a strong fan of Essendon, and I am writing to you to tell my opinion in which James Hird should play back in Defence, because it is getting to that time, where he is getting too old and if he is to keep playing defence is the ideal position for James.
Lorraine Askwith from Kallangur says: Wherever James plays is ok with me, he is just marvelous, I thought resting in the defence though with forward bursts would help him with injuries.
Damon Beckwith from Essendon says: Playing James predominantly as a forward is a good way to cut his career short with collision injuries. Playing him predominantly as a midfielder is a good way to halve the number of games he plays per season and reduce his effectiveness through soft tissue injuries. Playing him predominantly in defence is a better option because he will play more games for EFC from there, but before long it will simply render him impotent to win the game, which is what he can and wants to do. James Hird is potentially the most precise and deadly tactical weapon in the league and Kevin Sheedy is the ideal General. Playing primarily as a sweeper where his ability to read to play can be used to best effect, Sheedy can move Hird around to create and exploit match ups. He will get his 1-2 goals, 5 clearances, 6 inside fifties and 6 defensive rebounds and leave a mob of confused opponents in his wake all in one game, AND he might add a couple years to his distinguished career. It worked for Jesalenko.
Jeremy Barraclough from Heidelberg Heights says: James dictates the corridor when he plays in the middle. He can always be relied on to play in front and as a strong target he co-ordinates purposeful transition through the middle. He claims the ball with one grab, which makes him an ideal player beneath Alessio and Hille who are tapping the ball well these days. If he is allowed to have free reign (as any King should) of both 50m arcs, his forward entries and clearances from defence will be first rate. The man is a General. I say let him marshall the troops in a position where he can do the most damage. After all, why have a Mitsubishi engine, when you can have a Bentleigh!
Patricia Griffiths from Croydon says: James Hird is a footballer of many talents, playing in many positions is not a very hard task. But I believe that in midfield is where we kneed an extra boost. Our bakes from centre isn't something we should be 2 pleased at. So now I think with Hird and mark Johnson we should be able to get the ball to our forwards like Lloyd.
Marc Seen from Sunnyabnk says: I believe that James Hird should not play in the centre because the bombers would want to get as much use out of Hird as possible. If he plays in the centre he is more likely to get more injuries whereas if he plays in the forwards he will have more of an impact and preserve himself for years to come. Better to have him do lots of little things than a big game and then out for 6 weeks.
Jillian Nash from Seaford says: I think James Hird is a great all around player and he can play anywhere on the field if he wanted to. but I think we have enough great forwards and defenders at the moment so he should stay in the middle and help us get the ball out of there faster.
This week's 3 poll asks - Should the club further penalise players suspended for undisciplined acts?
a. yes
b. no
Click here to vote.
