ESSENDON coach John Worsfold hopes his predecessor James Hird will return to the AFL club this season.

The Bombers finally have clean air in the wake of their supplements debacle.

Hird was a central figure in the four-year saga and it took a heavy toll.

Earlier this year, he spent several weeks in a mental health facility for treatment after taking an overdose of sleeping pills. 

Hird resigned as coach in 2015 and has had no involvement with the game since. 

Earlier this month, Hird wrote in a newspaper column about reaching a breaking point after years of stress. 

But he also expressed his hopes for the Bombers, now the supplements saga is over. 

On Saturday night, Essendon started the season with an emotional win over arch-rivals Hawthorn. 

David Evans, who was chairman when the supplements program was run at Essendon in 2012, was a guest of the club and was in the rooms post-match.

Worsfold said the Bombers would love to welcome Hird, one of their greatest players, back to the club.

"I don't know James personally very well but he is a massive part of the history and success of the Essendon footy club through his playing days. Everyone acknowledges that," Worsfold told Fox Footy. 

"The old time members, they tell me he's in the two best players ever at the footy club.

"I know (Essendon chairman) Lindsay Tanner has said we'll make sure that happens."