HIRD, Allan T.

Allan Hird was a fine half-back, half-forward and ruckman who was known as "Racehorse" because of his great speed. He played 12 games at Williamstown in 1937 and 1938 before transferring to Hawthorn mid-season in 1938. He played 14 games in 1938 and 1939 with Hawthorn.

He was on the half-back flank in the 1942 premiership team. He also won Essendon's Outstanding Player award in 1945 as well as the Best Utility Player award in 1942 and 1944 and the Most Efficient Player award in 1943.

He had a remarkably consistent career, for from his debut in 1940 to leaving Essendon in 1945, Hird played 102 out of a possible 103 games.

After leaving Essendon, he went on to be captain-coach of St Kilda in 1946 and 1947, playing 38 games for the Saints. He then returned to Essendon in 1948 as captain-coach of the Seconds until the end of 1954.

Under his leadership, the Seconds played in five successive Grand Finals from 1949 to 1953 and won the premiership in 1950 and 1952.

After this, Hird became a Seconds official until he became a Club committeeman in 1956 and he was treasurer from 1958 to 1960. A teacher, he was promoted to Inspector in 1960 and was transferred to the Wimmera, so had to resign from the committee. However he rejoined the committee on his return to Melbourne in 1965 and he served as president of Essendon from 1969 to 1975.

He then served as a VFL director from 1971 to 1975 and was vice-president in 1974. He became chairman of the League Players Appeals Board in 1976 and was made a life member of the Victorian Football League that same year.

Hird retired in 1982 as the Victorian Assistant Director General of Education.

The Club honoured him initially by naming a grandstand at Windy Hill after him, then making him an inaugural member of the Hall of Fame and later elevating him to Legend status. He was awarded VFL Life membership in 1976.

His son, Allan, later also played with Essendon as did his grandson, James.

He died on 16th May, 2007.