Editing James Hird (section)

==Playing career==

===Essendon===
====Early career====
He was recruited to the AFL by Essendon from the [[1990 AFL Draft]]; however, due to a serious hip injury along with other injuries in his junior football career, he was not selected until pick number 79, Essendon's seventh pick and one of the last in the draft.<ref name='draft-selection'>{{Cite web|title=Essendon Football Club Draft History|publisher=Essendon Football Club|url=http://www.essendonfc.com.au/team/drafthistory.asp|access-date=16 March 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211163140/http://essendonfc.com.au/team/drafthistory.asp|archive-date=11 February 2009}}</ref> Due to injury, Hird missed out on playing for most of 1991, his first season with the club. At the end of the season, a vote was held on whether to delist him. The majority (4–2) voted in favour of Hird being delisted, but coach [[Kevin Sheedy (Australian footballer)|Kevin Sheedy]], sensing a promising future for the young Hird, voted to keep him. Ultimately, Hird remained with the club. He made his senior debut against [[St Kilda Football Club|St Kilda]] in 1992 at Waverley Park as a late replacement for former captain [[Terry Daniher]]. Hird spent most of the season in the Essendon Reserves, which, under [[Denis Pagan]], won the premiership that season. He achieved regular selection in the Essendon senior team during the 1993 season. In that season, he was a member of what was referred to as the "Baby Bombers", a group of young players (most notably including Hird, [[Mark Mercuri]], [[Gavin Wanganeen]], [[Dustin Fletcher]], [[Ricky Olarenshaw]], [[David Calthorpe]], [[Paul Hills]] and [[Joe Misiti]]) that played a key role in the side [[1993 AFL Grand Final|winning the premiership]] that year. In 1994, Hird won the first of three consecutive [[best and fairest|best-and-fairest]] awards, culminating in his 1996 season that earned him a [[Brownlow Medal]].<ref name="JAMES HIRD">{{cite web|url=https://australianfootball.com/players/player/James%2BHird/13012|title=JAMES HIRD|access-date=17 May 2022}}</ref><ref name="essendonfc.com.au">{{cite web|url=https://www.essendonfc.com.au/club/history/champions-of-essendon/james-hird|title=James Hird|access-date=17 May 2022}}</ref>

A series of injuries restricted Hird's appearances during the remainder of the 1990s. He played only seven games in 1997, and, although he was named captain in 1998 (a position he held until the end of 2005), he was restricted to thirteen games that year due to injury-related issues. An even worse year followed in 1999, with [[stress fracture]]s in his foot keeping him to only two games.<ref name="JAMES HIRD"/><ref name="essendonfc.com.au"/>

====Early 2000s====
In 2000, both Hird and the Essendon Football Club experienced the [[2000 AFL season|most dominant season]] in AFL football to date. Injury-free, he received numerous honours, including selection in the [[All-Australian team]] and the [[Norm Smith Medal]] as best on ground in the [[2000 AFL Grand Final|AFL Grand Final]]. The Essendon team also won the [[2000 Ansett Australia Cup|Ansett Cup pre-season competition]] as well as the [[2000 AFL Grand Final|regular season premiership]]. The team only lost one game—against the [[Western Bulldogs]]—in the entire calendar year.<ref name="JAMES HIRD"/><ref name="essendonfc.com.au"/>

The year [[2002 AFL season|2002]] then saw Hird's worst injury, a horrific facial injury sustained in a match against {{AFL Fre}} when he collided with teammate [[Mark McVeigh]]'s knee, fracturing several bones; Hird was in hospital for a week and missed several weeks of the season.<ref name="facial-update">{{cite news | url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/05/05/1019441459678.html | title=Hird has surgery on facial injuries | work=The Sydney Morning Herald  | date=2 May 2002 | access-date=22 March 2009}}</ref><ref name="JAMES HIRD"/><ref name="essendonfc.com.au"/>

In [[2003 AFL season|2003]], despite again missing many games through various injuries (eight games in total), Hird tied with [[Scott Lucas (footballer)|Scott Lucas]] for the best-and-fairest award. He also narrowly missed out on a second Brownlow Medal, finishing three votes shy of joint winners [[Mark Ricciuto]], [[Nathan Buckley]] and [[Adam Goodes]]. He gained a place in the 2003 [[All-Australian]] team, the fifth and final time in his career.<ref name="JAMES HIRD"/><ref name="essendonfc.com.au"/>

One of Hird's more memorable performances was in his Round 3 game against [[West Coast Eagles|West Coast]] in 2004. Up until three-quarter time, Hird had 19 disposals and one goal; in the final quarter, however, he managed 15 disposals and two decisive goals.<ref>{{Cite web|title=James Hird's Winning Goal vs West Coast 2004|publisher=Network Ten| via=YouTube|date=28 October 2006|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUhhHA-AJvc|access-date=16 March 2009}}</ref> Despite the incredible effort, and to the consternation of fans, Hird did not receive any [[Brownlow Medal]] votes from the umpires for his 34 disposals and clutch goals, which was perceived by some as retribution for his comments earlier in the week against umpire [[Scott McLaren]], for which he was fined $20,000.<ref name='judd-brownlow'>{{Cite news|title=Judd claims West Coast's first Brownlow|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=21 September 2004|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/09/21/1095651257787.html|access-date=16 March 2009}}</ref> Hird's winning goal was the focus of a popular instalment of the Toyota Memorable Moments advertising campaign,<ref name='toyota-commercial'>{{Cite web|title=James Hird Toyota Commercial|via=YouTube|date=16 January 2007|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUhhHA-AJvc|access-date=16 March 2009}}</ref> and the hug is captured in Jamie Cooper's painting ''the Game That Made Australia'', commissioned by the AFL in 2008 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the sport.<ref name="150years-painting">{{cite web|url=http://www.150years.com.au/150Moments/150MomentsArticle/tabid/11382/Default.aspx?newsId=55972# |title=The Game That Made Australia painting |work=150years.com.au |publisher=Australian Football League |access-date=4 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130419120046/http://www.150years.com.au/150Moments/150MomentsArticle/tabid/11382/Default.aspx?newsId=55972 |archive-date=19 April 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="JAMES HIRD"/><ref name="essendonfc.com.au"/>

On 27 September 2005, Hird handed the captaincy to [[Matthew Lloyd]] following the side's [[2005 AFL season|2005 season]] in which it missed the finals for the first time since 1997.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2005-09-27/lloyd-to-lead-bombers/2112816 |title=Lloyd to lead Bombers |date=27 September 2005 |work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=4 September 2014}}</ref><ref name="JAMES HIRD"/><ref name="essendonfc.com.au"/>

After Lloyd sustained a season-ending hamstring injury in Round 3, 2006, Hird served briefly as acting captain until young ruckman [[David Hille]] was named acting captain for the remainder of the 2006 season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/Sport/Hille-appointed-Essendon-AFL-captain/2006/05/03/1146335789695.html |title=Hille appointed Essendon AFL captain |date=3 May 2006 |website=The Age  |access-date=4 September 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="JAMES HIRD"/><ref name="essendonfc.com.au"/>

Hird continued to be an outstanding performer in his utility role when fit, but age was forcing him to miss games through injury with increasing frequency. He suffered broken ribs and a calf strain during his 200th and 250th games, respectively.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hand|first=Guy|date=11 July 2004|title=Hird in hospital as Lloyd boots nine|work=The Sun-Herald|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/07/10/1089000403996.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/injuries-reports-spoil-dons-pairs-party/story-e6frf9l6-1111113906976|title=Injuries, reports spoil Dons pair's party|first=Rebecca|last=Williams|work=Herald Sun|date=7 July 2007}}</ref><ref name="JAMES HIRD"/><ref name="essendonfc.com.au"/>

====Final season and retirement====
[[File:Hird & Sheedy.jpg|thumb|right|Kevin Sheedy and Hird farewell banner ahead of their final game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground |alt=A red banner featuring drawings of former Essendon player James Hird and former coach Kevin Sheedy]]
Despite much speculation that he would retire at the end of the 2006 season, Hird played out the 2007 season, playing 17 of a possible 22 games. Aged 34, Hird continued to feature prominently among Essendon's best players and concluded his career by winning a fifth best-and-fairest award.<ref name="JAMES HIRD"/><ref name="essendonfc.com.au"/>

Hird played two farewell games: his final game in Victoria at the [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]] against [[Richmond Football Club|Richmond]] and his final game overall at [[Subiaco Oval]] against [[West Coast Eagles|West Coast]]. The games were made higher profile as they were also the final games coached by 27-year coach [[Kevin Sheedy (Australian footballer)|Kevin Sheedy]]. Hird was one of the best on field in his final game, with 34 disposals, one shy of his career high. As Hird and Sheedy left the field for the last time, the crowd gave them a standing ovation.<ref name='hird-sheedy-farewell'>{{cite web |url=http://www.perthnow.com.au/eagles-v-essendon-moments-kevin-sheedy-and-james-hird-retire/story-fn6mh93f-1226050002105 |title=Eagles v Essendon moments – Kevin Sheedy and James Hird retire |last1=Papalia |first1=Ben |date=4 May 2011 |website=Perth Now |access-date=4 September 2014}}</ref><ref name="JAMES HIRD"/><ref name="essendonfc.com.au"/>

Before season 2008, the [[Archer-Hird Medal|Archer–Hird Medal]] was created to honour Hird and former [[North Melbourne Football Club]] player and fellow future [[Australian Football Hall of Fame]] inductee [[Glenn Archer]]. From 2008 until 2013, the medal was awarded to the player showing the most determination, courage and skill in matches between the Kangaroos and the Bombers.<ref name="kangaroos-archer-hird-medal">{{cite web | url=http://www.kangaroos.com.au/tabid/4912/default.aspx?newsid=55737 | title=Archer-Hird Medal to continue rivalry | work=kangaroos.com.au | publisher=North Melbourne Football Club | access-date=4 September 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224050652/http://www.kangaroos.com.au/tabid/4912/default.aspx?newsid=55737 | archive-date=24 February 2012}}</ref>