James Hird never stood a chance, considering who he is...
Hird was an Essendon great. Premierships, Brownlow medal, captain, champion player, many argued one of the best the game has seen (not me, but many). He retired a legend, a "Godlike" figure amongst the Essendon faithful....
Outside football, from all reports, he's hugely successful as a businessman and professional...
A few years later, he returns as coach, to save the club from their despair. I'm sure everyone remembers the excitement, the hysteria surrounding his return. Especially when they started winning a few on the trot... He's responsible for luring another favourite son back to the club (Bomber Thompson). Essendon are a power again and it's all thanks to Hird...
Throw in, beautiful wife, great kids, perfect home, and you have a man with the Midas touch. An individual who always "wins", an individual who doesn't know the meaning of "failure" in any aspect of his life. Revered, loved, idolised, a hero. Invincible...
Then the shit hits the fan. Football wise and personally. No way in the world is Hird, or anyone in his position, going to tarnish his absolutely perfect reputation and standing. He can't. There's too much to lose. He works all his life to establish himself as this "Devine being", untouchable, all knowing, all conquering. He's not letting this undo his life's work. He's not letting this become his legacy. He's not putting a black mark on his spotless and perfect record. So he adopts the "deny, deny, deny" approach. No matter what the consequences or who falls by the wayside. He then, in his mind, had no option but to follow this through, no matter what...
Call it self inflicted, or whatever you like, but once he made this choice, it was bound to take a heavy toll. He was doomed from the start, purely because of what he is...