Hird - Not a bad year really...

[The Dutchman!]

After 2-3 years in the injury wilderness...

1. Undefeated in any game he played for the year 2000 - pre-season, season, post season, International... that is dead set unbelievable - something like 26/26 missing 3 or 4 (including the one team loss).

2. All Australian Captain of the only team to whitewash the Irish in any Country - let alone Ireland.

3. Premiership captain.

4. Pre-season premiership captain.

5. Best on Ground in the Grand Final/ Norm Smith medalist

6. Anzac Day medalist for best on ground.

7. 16 Brownlow votes (4th or 5th?) in a year he's played around 18/22 games with at least 5 of those only half games.

Seriously folks, this guy is God. Very pleased to have paid him handsomely to get well for a few years - cos if he stays major injury free for the rest of his career look out....

 

[Bernie]

That is an amazing record - maybe he should have entered the Olympics just to keep that streak going.

Good luck to him - he's had to do the hard yards on occasion. But he really is the PR Dream - walks the talk - and THE role model for all AFL wanabes. Pity about those ears !

 

[Arch]

well put Dutchy.

Especially warms the heart after the bagging he copped, from not only the media, but from certain Essendon fans as well who thought he was becoming a waste of $$$ for us.

anyway- one picture tells a thousand words......

 

[Rooboy 96]

Is that Lou????

he is looking very happy with himself... I see what you mean...

 

[JUBJUB]

ARCH -Wheres Lou Richards right hand in the above picture ?

It could explain why Hird is so happy.

Did Hird miss the loss to the Bulldogs in round 21 ?

------------------
"The good humour man can only be pushed so far ". -Bart Simpson

 

[Arch]

u guys really are a bunch of smartasses arnt ya ???

& yes- i can imagine that Lou as a staunch Pies man was "totally stoked" to be handing over the Norm smith to Essendons favourite son. It wouldve warmed his heart im sure.

long live Hirdy.

 

[Dan26]

Hird is THE greatest payer in the comp. Bar none.

If Hird payed every minute of every home and away game and was NEVER taken from the field, he would win the Brownlow every single year. Not only would he won, he'd poll 30 plus votes.

No player (not even Carey) could do this. There have been past years where Carey has played every game (bar one or two) and has spent the whole time on the field. If Hird did this, he'd win the Bronwlow by a street every year.

The uncany marking ability for his size, his reading of the play, his ability to win the hard-ball, his disposal, his leadership, his ability to make time and space stand still...

But mos importantly, his magnificent ability to maintain a high standard is what makes hi great. There is not much diference between his best and worst games. His worst games are still exeptional. Carey, despite his unquestioned greatness can still have a poor game and have little or no influence. Usually, Carey does have an influence (and he can often destroy a team), but there are still several games where he doesn't make an impact (including a few against Essendon this year)

Hird is is simply the greatest player in the AFL. Fancy being unbeaten in all forms of football this year. Incredible.

 

[S.Robbo]

If Jimmy Hird can't do it, nobody can! That's the saying of been brandishing around for years, after watching this freak just glide through football matches with such grace and finesse. Can't speak highly enough of him. Just wrapped that he was able to get back to his best and better and thoroughly agree that it was wiorth paying him every cent, whilst he was recuperating.

The irony of Dermie relying on this bloke to lead the Australians was huge, given that he criticised Hird's value to Essendon, during the injury plagued years. No doubt he's happy that the man proved him wrong.

 

[Shinboners]

James Hird? Yeah, I'm sure we could fit him in somewhere on the North list!

A great season from a champion player.

 

[Richmondfan#1]

I don't care what team Hird plays for, I'm happy to see him have such a successful year.

I think it is good to see supporters from other clubs recognizing true champions and acknowledge their gutsy efforts.

Well done Hird.

 

[The Dutchman!]

Class replies folks - good to see objectivity is not entirely lost here.

Cheers
Dutchy

 

[sabre_ac]

Yeah JUBJUB
Lou or mr Stretch is jerking Hird off

 

[dons_r_tops]

Did Hird get his ears from Lou?

Have a look and see

 

[The Dutchman!]

Addendum:

Add player of the series (Australian side) to that list....

 

[Shinboners]

Dutchy

Oddly enough, the only lack of objectivity comes from the one person who always claims to be objective....ironic huh?

 

[The Dutchman!]

Oh well!

 

[Peter]

Guess all he has missed out on is an AFLPA MVP voted on by his peers. They haven't as yet decided that he is best.

 

[ant]

What is this, the James Hird fan club post season celebration?? The guy is a great player but he was not the main reason they went undefeated for the year. The whole team was awesome and played extremely well, he was just a one cog in the Bombers line up.

 

[GoEagles]

Hirdy did have a good year, I'll give him credit for coming back from past years of injury and to see his skills and leadership was fantastic.

Lets hope for his sake he can follow it up next year.

 

[Dan26]

Shinboners,

My OBJECTIVE opinion is that James Hird, is the best player in the Australian Football League. And that is being objective.

Actually, if you are being technical, to be objective means to present the facts without opinions, or feeling getting in the way. Does this mean I am not ALLOWED to have an opinion any more (which was based on facts anwyay in this case) for fear of being branded unobjectionable.

I don't think anyone presents stats to back things up more than me about various topics.

 

[Shinboners]

 

[Drakey]

Originally posted by Dan24:
his ability to make time and space stand still...

Now that is a neat trick. I must have missed it. Do I have to adjust my clock?

 

[Dan26]

Shins,

Stop being flippant. Ever since I said that the AFL sees North as meaningless (which is from the AFL's point of view anyway ...why hage a go at me ?), you've never quite been the same have you ?

I hit quite a nerve.

 

[Shinboners]

There are lies, damned lies, and statistics.

Here endeth the lesson.

Flippantly yours
Shinboners

[This message has been edited by Shinboners (edited 18 October 2000).]

 

[Drakey]

I still want to know how he made time & space stand still????

That is very clever. Biblical in fact.