Hird To Present Norm Smith Medal at 2017 Grand Final

[TheExtractorFactor]

JAMES Hird will be welcomed back to football with the honour of presenting the Norm Smith Medal to the player judged best on the ground at this year’s Grand Final.

The gesture comes just four years after the AFL banished Hird at the height of the Essendon drugs saga, and two years on from his exit as Bombers coach.

Article link: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/a...l/news-story/e3b1ade98bf4592af9bd6401e1b70d64

What are peoples thoughts on this?

 

[SBYM]

Do you catch drugs if he touches you?

 

[Rich]

* off.

 

[WWSD]

JAMES Hird will be welcomed back to football with the honour of presenting the Norm Smith Medal to the player judged best on the ground at this year’s Grand Final.

The gesture comes just four years after the AFL banished Hird at the height of the Essendon drugs saga, and two years on from his exit as Bombers coach.

The Herald Sun can reveal AFL bosses have written to Hird, inviting him to return to the spotlight on football’s biggest day.

Hird is holidaying overseas with his family and is yet to open the letter. The AFL confirmed it had issued the invitation, but was yet to hear back from Hird.

But tonight Hird said he would accept the honour, which will see him on the premiership dais come September 30.

“If they (have asked me), I would love to do it,” Hird told the Herald Sun from Europe.

“It would just be good to be out there on Grand Final day. It’s obviously the best day in the footy calendar, so it would be a nice experience.”

The league’s invitation will be viewed as the first significant step towards mending its fractured relationship with Essendon’s former golden boy.

But the AFL is simply sticking to a hidden tradition.

The AFL follows the order of past Norm Smith winners to determine who presents the medal, which until today has been kept a secret outside of league headquarters.

Shannon Grant (1999 winner) awarded Western Bulldog Jason Johannisen his Norm Smith last year, Andrew McLeod (1997-98 winner) presented Cyril Rioli with his in 2015, Glenn Archer (1996 winner) gave Luke Hodge his in 2014 while Greg Williams placed the medal around Brian Lake’s neck in 2013.

As the 2000 Norm Smith Medallist, this season is Hird’s turn.

Even Hird was unaware of the AFL’s sequence.

“I didn’t know that was the way they did it — but I’m glad it is,” he said.

Hird is one of just six players to win both a Brownlow Medal and a Norm Smith — along with Jimmy Bartel, Chris Judd, Simon Black, Nathan Buckley and Greg Williams.

Bartel explained last Grand Final day how cherished his Norm Smith was.

“I value them both equally. But emotionally right now (on Grand Final day) I probably (prefer) the Norm Smith Medal,” Bartel said.

“Because it’s Grand Final day and at least I’ve played a little bit of a role in helping us win a premiership.”

Judd and Buckley won their Norm Smith Medals in losing Grand Finals.


Article link: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/a...l/news-story/e3b1ade98bf4592af9bd6401e1b70d64

 

[jakethesnake24]

Yuck

 

[Bardo State]

I'd imagine most professional sporting organizations don't go out of their way to needlessly reintegrate individuals responsible for systemic illegal doping regimes into their games.

Gotta hand it to the AFL for thinking outside the box on that one.

 

[schmuttt]

I hate him but don't have an issue with this at all.

 

[MC Bad Genius]

I know it's unlikely, but wouldn't it be great if the Eagles somehow made it to the last Saturday in September and Sam Mitchell played a blinder...

 

[Trucker Tiger]

Twice done for bringing the game into disrepute. The AFL are, if nothing else, an easily forgiving lot.

 

[ManOfClay]

As long as he doesn't * it up like north spud Shannon grant

 

[MickyG]

un****ing believable

 

[Mkcaptain]

Collingwood's boycotting this years finals series in protest.

 

[jakethesnake24]

As long as he doesn't **** it up like north spud Shannon grant

Shoulda been belly

 

[SBYM]

I know it's unlikely, but wouldn't it be great if the Eagles somehow made it to the last Saturday in September and Sam Mitchell played a blinder...

That would be up there.

 

[FootyGeek]

I hope West Coast make the grand final now.

 

[Lsta062]

And here come the melts...

I really don't have an issue if Hird presents it. Let's just move on from this saga.

 

[Boxhead_31]

Not sure if the AFL have fully thought this through.
80,000 - 100,000 folks who have been on the drink all day with the focal point of one of the biggest scandals the game has seen.

The boos could be setting off Richter scales for miles around.

 

[footyboi1]

#Fail

 

[#gosaintas]

Not sure if the AFL have fully thought this through.
80,000 - 100,000 folks who have been on the drink all day with the focal point of one of the biggest scandals the game has seen.

The boos could be setting off Richter scales for miles around.

AFL will ban booing

 

[citizen-erased]

Hats off the afl
I applaud the step in moving on and to Hird for accepting it for the honour it is.
Will likely cop some jeers but I'll be happy to see him present it
Still a champion of the game.

Over to you Essendon to get there on the day
Jobe for Norm smith

 

[TedDougChris]

Should be banned for life from any involvement in the game.

On SM-T355Y using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Allikat]

Not sure if the AFL have fully thought this through.
80,000 - 100,000 folks who have been on the drink all day with the focal point of one of the biggest scandals the game has seen.

The boos could be setting off Richter scales for miles around.

I think the boos from people at their tv's and pubs will echo that far too.

 

[SBYM]

Not sure if the AFL have fully thought this through.
80,000 - 100,000 folks who have been on the drink all day with the focal point of one of the biggest scandals the game has seen.

The boos could be setting off Richter scales for miles around.

Lotsa corporates at the GF...might mitigate it somewhat, although in my experience it's usually the privileged *sticks that act the worst...

 

[SBYM]

hahahahahaaa...one of the best scenes from one of the best shows...

Michael Richards was a goddamn genius in that role.

 

[SwampCreature]

Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooo