Essendon great James Hird has courageously opened up about his mental health struggles as he prepares to return to the AFL media spotlight after facing significant personal challenges. After quietly separating from his wife Tania over a year ago, which marked the end of their 27-year marriage, Hird is seeking to regain both his professional footing and emotional well-being.
At 51 years old, Hird has taken steps to focus on his mental health, moving out of their family home located in Toorak. Following the fallout from Essendon3s 2013 supplements scandal, Hird engaged with Beyond Blue seeking help and support to cope with the aftermath. Now, as he re-enters the limelight, he is closely involved with the FifthQtr Foundation, which aims to provide assistance to former AFL players who may struggle with similar issues.
'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,' Hird noted during his reflections. He believes FifthQtr could function as the AFL equivalent of Beyond Blue by offering helplines and support networks to former players. The initiative, spearheaded by Carlton great Ken Hunter, addresses key challenges like mental health struggles, legal issues, and financial problems faced by retired athletes.
Hird has shared his gratitude for the AFL Players' Association, highlighting their invaluable support throughout his difficult times. 'The AFLPA has helped me incredibly over the years – they've been there when I've needed them,' he mentioned at a FifthQtr forum held at Ikon Park.
Hird acknowledges how fortunate he has been, stating, '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 don3t maybe have to go to work.' His past experiences, especially the support network he found, have been pivotal to his recovery. He recognizes, though, the unfortunate truth many ex-players face. 'Some people go through football, finish the game, they haven't got a lot of savings … they don3t have a job, and then the finances fall apart,' he remarked, illuminating the harsh reality some former athletes endure.
The FifthQtr Foundation aims to stem the tide of these issues by creating 'safe havens' to tackle matters such as drug and alcohol abuse, along with mental health concerns prevalent among retired players.
While preparing to return to Nine's Footy Classified program, Hird admits to feeling some hesitance. '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 commented. His experiences as both player and coach have equipped him with unique insights to share with audiences.
Beyond media opportunities, Hird will continue his role as Port Melbourne's director of coaching, believing it aligns more suitably with his current lifestyle than the pressure of being head coach.
Throughout Hird's illustrious playing career, which began with his drafting at pick 79 during the 1990 National Draft, he reached the pinnacle of success. He shared the Brownlow Medal with Michael Voss in 1996 and captured the Norm Smith Medal in 2000, contributing to the Bombers' premiership victory the same year. His impressive accolades, which include five Best and Fairest medals, have solidified his place within the Australian Football Hall of Fame.
Despite the remarkable achievements on the field, off-field challenges such as legal disputes and the aftermath of the supplements saga have severely tested Hird's resilience.
Hird's openness about his mental health battle serves not only as his personal story but aims to inspire other past players who may also be struggling to seek help. With organizations like FifthQtr gathering momentum, there's hope for enhanced support systems for those who have dedicated their lives to the sport.
If you or someone you know needs support, you can contact Lifeline at 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue at 1300 224 636.