He confirmed on Monday night that he had entered the race for the vacant senior coaching job at Windy Hill, but denied reports the decision had already been made.
The 37-year-old, who played 253 games for the club between 1992 and 2007, has undergone interviews at the club over the past week and has made a presentation to the panel chosen to select Matthew Knights’ successor.
Hird has previously resisted calls to confirm or deny his interest in the role but has finally admitted his passion for the club has left him wanting to coach it.
“I’m not [the coach] at the moment but I would like to be,” Hird told Fox Sports’ On the Couch on Monday night.
“I’ve put my hat in the ring and I’ve gone through the process. I’ve spent about a week and a half going through the process of the interviews at the football club.
“At this stage I haven’t been offered that job but I’m very hopeful that it does happen and I’m very excited it could happen.”
Hird denied deceiving the media or the public with his recent refusal to confirm his interest.
“I think what people are after is a simple answer to a very complex question,” he said.
“For me, the complex question is, ‘Do you want to coach the Essendon Football Club?’ and yes, I’ve said I would love to.
“There are a lot of things in life I had to get organised before I could commit to doing anything.
“Fortunately, over the last week and a half to the last week, a lot of those things have fallen into place and I’ve put my hand up to hopefully be Essendon’s coach.”
Hird’s off-field sports management business Gemba has been the main sticking point in his desire to take on the role but he has recently reworked his involvement.
He revealed he had been to New York after his initial rebuking of his interest to speak to his mentor, who he declined to name.
Despite being a famous name at Windy Hill, Hird said he has not been assured of his chances and will be required to go through the process with the other candidates.
“As I sit here today I’m out in the open and probably as vulnerable as everyone else going for the job,” he said.
“I wouldn’t have gone for the job unless I thought I was a very good chance [but] it was definitely pointed out to me I was no guarantee.
“I’m certainly very excited about getting the job, I really hope I get the job and I’m even quietly confident underneath I’ll get it.
“But, until it’s decided ... and Essendon has the concern I’m an untried coach.”
Hird said he had applied specifically for the senior role and had been asked by the club about the possibility of installing a senior assistant beneath him.
He said his three years away from football working at Gemba had honed his man management skills and believed his knowledge of the game was adequate to take on the role.
“Over my last few years at Fox Sports, I’ve watched eight games a week, I’ve been across every game,” he said.
“I think I understand the game but there are still a lot of gaps I need to fill and it’s not just about me as the coach.
“If I get this job, I want the best coaching group around me so it’s a group coaching the Essendon football team; not just one person.”
Hird also declined to reveal the term of appointment he was seeking but said it was less than five years.
