Match-day role is not confirmed at this stage for disgraced coach.
Essendon is yet to decide if James Hird will return to their coach’s box when his allowed to return to the team after his 12 month AFL ban.
Hird has been out of the game for a year for his part in the AFL supplements scandal, and the time-frame lapses on August 25.
In what will be the Bombers’ final regular season game, Hird will be allowed to be with the team on day-to-day activities, but board members are yet to decide if it is advisable he will join the rest of the current coaching staff in the box against Carlton.
Hird is understood to be concerned about crowding current coach Mark Thompson, with former player Robert Shaw saying if Hird returns and begins to control the side it could cause a massive disruption in the side.
“If Essendon was 14th and no chance to play finals then he comes straight back in and they start preparing for 2015, but with the situation being what it is I’d hope Hirdy would put in a quiet call to Bomber and say, `Mate, it’s your show, I’m going to be a distraction’,” Shaw said.
“The circus would come with him. There would be cameras peering into coaches boxes, who’s going to get the first interview, media camped outside Tullamarine. It would be crazy.
“It would be easy for him to say to Bomber: ‘You’re doing a terrific job, I’ll see you on October 1st when it’s all over’. They might have had that conversation already.”
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