Prospective Essendon coach James Hird plans to refresh the clubโs football department and introduce a modern way of teaching players, should he win the top role.
Two industry sources with knowledge of the situation at โthe Hangarโ, who wished to remain anonymous in order to speak freely, rubbished suggestions that a decade spent largely out of the AFL system meant the dual-premiership star and former captain would need time to adjust to the way the game is now played.
Hird is a master communicator, the same sources said, who would lean into the increasing use of artificial intelligence to help gather and dissect information for players and coaches, as Hawthorn has embraced under coach Sam Mitchell.
The same sources said Hird understood communication with players, in terms of relationship building and team tactics, had changed since he left the club through the 2015 season amid the fallout of the drugs saga
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Later tonight weโll see how Dean Solomon goes in his first match in the caretaker coachโs role at the Bombers.
