is hird capable of an apology?, page-149

I don't believe that Hird is guilty of drug cheating. For the sake of the club and his family, he has agreed, without admitting guilt,to accept the penalty handed out by the AFL, as a long drawn out legal battle would not be in his family's, or the AFL's long term interest.

But it is now clearly evident that he didn't take enough responsibility for his role as head coach of the Bombers. He allowed his underlings too much latitude, an approach which MAY have put his players at risk. For which he has paid a high price. With hindsight he may have been appointed to this position ahead of his time. But I can only assume that the Board made the (erroneous) assumption that, with an experienced coach like Thompson by his side, this would not present a problem. In this regard it seems that Thompson has been let off rather lightly.

And of course Hird and the EFC still have to wait for the conclusion of the investigation by WADA. Not a pretty picture for a team I have so ardently supported for so long.