Essendon great and AFL Hall of Famer James Hird has opened up about the immense personal toll he has endured as he prepares to re-enter the AFL media spotlight.
He and his wife Tania quietly separated over a year ago, ending a 27-year marriage that began in 1997 and spanned both triumph and turmoil at Essendon.
The former couple’s high-profile standing made their ability to keep the split a secret for so long all the more surprising.
Hird, now 51, moved out of their Toorak family home, choosing to focus on his mental health and career away from the public eye.
He has spoken candidly about seeking help from Beyond Blue in the aftermath of Essendon’s 2013 supplements scandal.
Now Hird has become closely involved with FifthQtr, viewing it as a potential AFL equivalent of Beyond Blue due to the way it could establish helplines and hubs for past footballers.
James Hird is making a comeback as a media analyst after a series of tough years as a coach
Hird’s relationship with Tania Hird broke down over a year ago and he has been rebuilding his life ever since
After being sacked as Essendon coach because of the supplements scandal, Hird also missed out on the GWS head coaching position
The FifthQtr Foundation is an emerging independent support organisation that aims to provide crucial assistance to former AFL players who may be struggling with mental health issues, legal or financial problems, and other personal challenges.
‘I’m not sure what [FifthQtr] could end up providing, but there’s definitely a need to help past players who are falling through the cracks,’ he told News Corp.
He sees the FifthQtr Foundation, spearheaded by Carlton great Ken Hunter, as a new support system for ex-AFL players who cannot access help elsewhere.
‘Anyone who can come in and help fill in the gaps … men struggle to openly put up their hand, but if there’s help in the form of someone at the end of a phone who can talk you through a hard situation and put you in touch with other services, that’s well and truly worthwhile.’
Hird spoke of how Beyond Blue was pivotal in his own darkest moments, recalling a call he made to its helpline a decade ago.
At a FifthQtr forum at Ikon Park, he thanked the AFL Players’ Association for its crucial support, while still noting its limited resources.
‘The AFLPA has helped me incredibly over the years – they’ve been there when I’ve needed them,’ he said.
For Hird, his ability to recover stemmed partly from having a supportive network and some financial security.
Hird has opened up about the mental battles he faced and wants other footballers that are battling in retirement to seek help
Hird has thrown his support behind FifthQtr, an initiative to help former footy players that have fallen on dark days
‘I want to highlight how lucky I was because I had this network of family … I made a bit of money through football, so you can actually take some time to breathe, and don’t maybe have to go to work.’
However he knows that not all former players are so fortunate, and many find themselves in dire straits after their careers end.
‘Some people go through that, finish football, they haven’t got a lot of savings … they don’t have a job, and then the finances fall apart, and it’s just an ongoing cycle you can’t get out of.’
The FifthQtr Foundation aims to break this cycle by establishing ‘safe havens’ nationwide to tackle issues such as drug and alcohol abuse, mental health struggles, and concussion-related concerns.
Meanwhile, Hird will return to Nine’s Footy Classified program, a move he admits causes him some apprehension.
‘There’s a bit of what you don’t know, you don’t know … but we’ll work it out on the night as well,’ he said of his reintroduction to broadcasting.
He believes his past roles as both player and coach give him a multi-faceted perspective to share with viewers.
Hird will also continue as Port Melbourne’s director of coaching, having decided that role suited him better than a head coach appointment.
Hird has remained in peak physical condition since his playing days and has also worked on his mental health
Hird’s illustrious playing career, which began with Essendon at pick 79 in the 1990 National Draft, reached its peak in 1996 when he shared the Brownlow Medal with Michael Voss.
He later claimed the Norm Smith Medal in 2000 and helped deliver a premiership to the Bombers in the same year.
His remarkable achievements, including five Best and Fairest medals, secured him a place in the Australian Football Hall of Fame.
Off-field, a succession of legal disputes and the devastating supplements saga tested his resilience to the limit.
If you need support, contact Lifeline 13 11 14, or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636