Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Allan Hird Snr

Known as
Allan Hird

Born
11 August 1918

Died
16 May 2007 (aged 88)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 19y 325d
Last game: 29y 19d

Height and weight
Height: 188 cm
Weight: 80 kg

Senior clubs
Hawthorn; Essendon; St. Kilda

Jumper numbers
Hawthorn: 39, 34
Essendon: 6
St. Kilda: 6

Recruited from
Hawthorn (1940); Essendon (1946)

Family links
Allan Hird Jnr (Son)James Hird (Grandson)Tom Hird (Great grandson)Stephanie Hird (Great grand-daughter)

Allan Hird

Advanced stats
ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
HawthornV/AFL1938-193914120.867%———0
EssendonV/AFL1940-194510220.0266%———2
St. KildaV/AFL1946-19473850.1313%———4
V/AFL1938-1947154190.1247%———6
Total1938-1947154190.1247%———6

AFL: 4,640th player to appear, 1,268th most games played, 3,807th most goals kickedHawthorn: 244th player to appear, 526th most games played, 324th most goals kickedEssendon: 552nd player to appear, 170th most games played, 700th most goals kickedSt. Kilda: 873rd player to appear, 392nd most games played, 598th most goals kicked

Allan Hird was a speedy half back or half forward - nicknamed 'race horse' - who played with Williamstown in the VFA in 1936 and 1937 before joining Hawthorn in 1938. He spent two seasons at Glenferrie without really establishing himself and after 14 VFL games and 12 goals he was off to Essendon where he would produce the best and most consistent football of bhis career. Between 1940 and 1945 Hird played 102 consecutive games for the Dons including the victorious grand final of 1942 against Richmond when he lined up on a half back flank. During his time with Essendon he won the club's outstanding player award (not to be confused with the best and fairest) in 1945, the best utility player award in 1942 and 1944 and the most efficient player award in 1944.

In 1946 and 1947 Hird was captain-coach of St Kilda where he added a final 38 VFL games and 5 goals to his respective career tallies. He then returned to Essendon where he served as captain-coach of the seconds from 1948 to 1954. During that time the Bombers played off in five straight grand finals, winning two of them.

Allan Hird later occupied a number of off field administrative roiles at Essendon including a stint as club president between 1969 and 1975.

Allan Hird's son, also called Allan Hird, played briefly for Essendon in the 1960s.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers by Russell Holmesby & Jim Main; Those Magnificent Men 1897-1987 by Michael Maplestone

Footnotes

* Behinds calculated from the 1965 season on.
+ Score at the end of extra time.