James Hird has been hands-on as coaching director at Port Melbourne in the VFL, but is it enough to ready himself to return as Essendon coach?

The Bombers champion, who also oversaw the infamous supplements saga, wants to return as senior coach, adding he wants the club to be “the best club in the AFL again”.

Former Hawk Jordan Lewis, who was on the subcommittee to select Brad Scott as Essendon coach in 2022, talked Hird up on Tuesday.