Ross Lyon claims GWS should NOT turn to James Hird as Leon Cameron’s successor

AFL commentator Ross Lyon believes GWS should not consider James Hird as Leon Cameron’s potential successor as it ‘wouldn’t be good governance’ following the Essendon supplements saga. 

Hird joined the Giants over the summer in a part-time leadership role, and with Cameron off-contract this year, speculation is mounting the Bombers legend could be offered the head coaching position for 2023 and beyond. 

Lyon, who previously coached himself at Fremantle and St Kilda, doesn’t believe the AFL would sign off on Hird to again be a senior coach based on ‘old scars.’

‘At the end of the day, we respect James, but what occurred is what occurred,’ Lyon told Nine’s Footy Classified.

‘There was no governance. It was an injection program (at Essendon) and he has to have some (old) scars. ‘I think it would be a massive call.’

AFL commentator Ross Lyon believes GWS should not consider James Hird as Leon Cameron’s potential successor as it ‘wouldn’t be good governance’ following the Essendon supplements saga from 2012 onwards that rocked the sport

James Hird (pictured left) joined the Giants over the summer in a part-time leadership role – and is being touted as the club’s next senior coach with Leon Cameron off-contract

Following a decorated playing career in the red and black, Hird was appointed as Essendon head coach for the 2011 season.

In late 2013 he was suspended for 12 months for his role in the supplements saga which rocked the sport. 

It eventually emerged many Bombers players were injected with Thymosin beta-4, a banned peptide, during the 2012 season. 

The players insisted they were unaware it was a banned substance.

Hird eventually returned in 2015, but when the club only managed five wins from his 19 games at the helm, he walked away as head coach.

The following season a total of 17 Bombers players still active in the AFL were stood down for the year due to their role in the supplements saga.

GWS senior coach Cameron doesn’t appear to be worried by talk Hird could replace him in the hot seat.  

‘My theory is if I’ve got really good people around me and they make me a better coach or a better person, which leads on to better results, then it will help me progress in where I want to get to. So that doesn’t worry me,’ he said.

The Giants currently sit 16th on the ladder after losses to Sydney and Richmond in the first two rounds.