Pure speculation, obviously, but I find the Hird we knew from his playing days - the honest, legendary great footy player and Essendon club man - got lost when he went into the big business and corporate world 100%. On coming back to the game, slowly through the media, then as fulltime coach, he brought with him the mindset and sensibility of the corporate shark. Living in such a corrupt utopia, where laws really only exist to extend and improve the benefits and profits of those in that world, generates it's own belief system that ultimately leads to the delusions of grandeur, which we see in Hird today.
Sadly for Essendon, this 'new' Hird was given complete control of the club, had the backing of the faithfull, and was given a free ride by (most) of the media. Hird believed in his own legend, and believed he could do no wrong - he still believes it. He's still the shark living un Utopia, using his powers to try and destroy anyone who gets in his way. And still Essendon fold to his ways, appointing a new boss this week to lick his boots and put on a shirtfront of 'unity'.
The sooner the Bombers face up to what Hird has done to the club, and continues to do so, and gets rid of him and takes their medicine, the better off they and the comp will be.