AFL Star - Life Coach - Good Father.

James Hird.

I think everyone knows James Hird the football champion - however there are a few other layers of the man that people may not be as aware of.

I have seen (but not yet purchased) a slightly different 'biography' on James Hird. Reading the blurb on the back it doesn't seem like your typical sporting memoirs novel, but diving a little deeper into life issues, morals, good business sense and motivational thoughts. James owns the restaurant 'Red Mullet' and is renowned for his business sense and understanding of life's hurdles and how to overcome them. I'm planning on getting this book... soon.

If you've watched Essendon games on TV this season the other thing you may have noticed is whenever there's footage of Hird warming up you'll see his 3 kids, Stephanie (8), Thomas (6) and Alexander (4) either warming up with him, kicking a footy in the room or standing with 'Pa' (Sheeds). The Hird kids have pretty well free reign over the Essendon change rooms, and James involves them in every aspect of his life.

After the Richmond game on Sunday the Kevin Sheedy/James Hird press conference was delayed about half an hour. The commentators sitting in the media room at the MCG doing post game commentary suddenly realised why... after the 88 000 people had filed out of the ground, James Hird returned to the MCG goal square, with Stephanie, Thomas and Alexander, where they spent a good 25 minutes have a kick on Australia's holy ground of football. One TV camera remained active, and zoomed in on the young team having a great time with Dad.

The footage of a loving Dad, who minutes earlier had been honoured by 88 thousand people, taking the time to kick the footy with his kids out on the G was more moving than any of the other retirement tributes I'd seen.

Just have to wait 15 or so years to see another Hird pull on the number 5 jersey... there were some decent skills in those young kids...