Everyone agrees they want James Hird to get better after his recent overdose, but the fighting about the roots of his fall continues.
On Monday, The Australian’s Patrick Smith wrote a column laying the blame solely at Hird’s own feet, and criticised other commentators, including Graham Cornes, for suggesting Hird gave up after being bullied.
Cornesy — whom Smith referred to as “loud but uneducated” — has previously written that he believed opposition fans, the AFL, the wider footy world and Essendon all shared in the blame for Hird’s demise.
“There must have been great angst in the newsroom as to whether this drivel should have been printed,” Smith wrote. “If Cornes means by scapegoat that someone had to be held responsible for an illegal and secret drug regime then, yes, Hird had to be held to account. He was, after all, the coach.
“His suggestion that it should have been kept within AFL walls proves his frightening lack of understanding of sport, not just football.”
Cornesy has spoken on FIVEAA about reporters he believed had a “vendetta” against James Hird — including Smith — and written about the vilification of Hird:
“Those of you who have vilified James Hird,” Cornes wote, “the media, particularly the Fairfax Press, who hounded and ridiculed him; the keyboard cowards who act from their cover of anonymity and lack of any moral filter…
“The opposition fans whose prejudice and hysteria blinded them to the facts; the AFL, which lost control of what should have been an internal matter; the football world in general, which has ostracised him; and indeed those from within the Essendon Football Club who were desperate for a scapegoat — must all face the consequences of their comments and their actions.
“For it is you who have driven James Hird to what could have been his last, desperate act.”
