‘Never seen anything like it’: Reveal over looming Hird pitch; Crows conundrum — AFL Daily

An Essendon legend has made a reveal over James Hird’s looming pitch for the Essendon job.

Plus, Matthew Nicks explained his conundrum with an ill star. Read on in AFL Daily.

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‘NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT’: BOMBERS LEGEND ON HIRD PITCH

Bombers great Matthew Lloyd has revealed his intel about James Hird’s presentation set to be made to the Essendon board.

It comes after club president Andrew Welsh recently informed Hird that he’d be a part of the process as Essendon seeks a new senior coach.

Lloyd, who spoke with Hird midweek, said he’s “never seen anything like” Hird’s desire for the top job.

“I was with him on Wednesday night, at an event,” Lloyd shared on 3AW.

“The passion, the hunger, the thirst for this job - I’ve never seen anything like it.

“He spoke openly about that, and the fact that he heard from Andrew Welsh.”

On the fascination around whether the new coach has to have a history at the club, Lloyd said: “I’m not of the view that it has to be an Essendon person … I just want the process to play out.”

Lloyd shared details of what Hird was set to bring to the table when he gets his chance.

“He’s got a full presentation ready to go; a holistic presentation on everything,” he revealed.

“Not just how we’re going to win a game of football, but what the club needs, and where it’s been with development, recruiting … staff he’d like to bring with him.

“If they aren’t just giving him a token interview, and they give him a genuine chance, he’s going to be tough to knock off from a presentation point of view, with the thought process around what he’s going to bring.”

The Bombers’ selection panel includes Welsh, chief executive Tim Roberts, board members Anthony Di Pietro and Ted Richards, and people and culture executive general manager Caroline Monzon.

‘WON’T PUT ANYONE IN HARM’S WAY’: CROWS’ CONUNDRUM WITH SICK STAR

Adelaide is considering leaving forward Riley Thilthorpe in Perth for an extended stay until he overcomes a stomach issue that kept him out of Friday night’s clash against West Coast.

The Crows don’t want to risk him passing a bug onto anyone else.

Coach Matthew Nicks said he wasn’t sure what the issue with Thilthorpe was, but he was in no shape to take his spot in the side that beat the Eagles by 25 points.

“We’re not sure whether Riley’s eating something or whether it’s a virus, but he went down pretty quickly this morning,” Nicks said.

“I don’t actually know how he’s doing at the moment. I’m pretty sure he’s out cold trying to sleep it off.

“But hopefully this is something sharp and quick that rips through him, and then he’s okay to go next week.

“We wouldn’t put Riley on a plane straight away.

“I don’t actually know whether it’s just a quick virus, whether it’s food poisoning.

“We’re not sure, but we won’t put anyone else in harm’s way, or any of the players.

“Maybe he stays for 24 hours, I don’t know.”

Considering the loss of Thilthorpe and having come off a disappointing loss against Port Adelaide in the Showdown, Nicks appeared relieved to have gotten out of Perth with a win.

He didn’t mind how it came.

The Crows kicked eight of the first nine goals of the game and led by as much as 43 points. They dominated the middle of the ground and were rewarded with scoring opportunities.

Darcy Fogarty cashed in with all four of his goals before half-time.

They were flying.

But when West Coast flew home, getting the margin back to 18 points in the final quarter, Nicks said the win became the focus, no matter how they got it.

“When we talk about slogging it out, that’s really what we went to,” he said.

“We were forced into that game in the last quarter.

“I’ve got no doubt that we have some supporters there, and we feel very similar, that you know we’re frustrated about the way the game was played, especially through that second half.

“Occasionally, you’ve got to go to that.

“We actually took the game into the trenches, if you want to call it that.

“Jordan (Dawson) led the way in that.

“So, we didn’t come over here to necessarily play pretty footy and try and entertain.

“We came to win.”

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