FREMANTLE has revealed that James Hird is in line for a Melbourne-based part-time analyst position with the club after the AFL confirmed it had been approached by the Dockers to approve the potential role for the former Essendon coach.

The Dockers on Friday said that Hird, a Bombers champion and ex-coach that became the public face of the infamous Essendon supplements saga this decade, was “one a of a number of potential candidates to fill a part-time role at the club”.

Freo football boss Chris Bond confirmed that Hird was in line for a part-time opposition analyst job, which would be based in Melbourne.

“We are in the early stages of considering a number of possible candidates and that process has not yet been completed,” Bond said.

Round 18

It was earlier reported by SEN radio that Hird had been contacted by Fremantle coach Ross Lyon about a role in the Dockers’ football department.

AFL spokesman Patrick Keane confirmed to foxfooty.com.au that the Dockers had approached the league about Hird. But the league told the Dockers that they “weren’t required” to tick off the role, as Hird had already served his suspension for his involvement in the Dons supplements saga.

“They asked us if there was any impediment and we said no, because he’s already returned to football as a coach and he presented the Norm Smith medal,” Keane told foxfooty.com.au.

Former Essendon coach James Hird. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia

Hird walked away from Essendon at the end of the 2015 season following the doping saga, months before 34 past and present players were handed one-year suspensions by The Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Asked about Hird potentially coming to the club, Fremantle skipper Nat Fyfe, who was caught off-guard, told reporters on Friday: “Is that right? That’d be great.

“This is literally the first I’m hearing of it. He’s an idol of mine and that’d be unreal but I can’t really comment because you’re breaking the news to me now.

“(Hird) was a gun and impacted the big moments. But me commenting on him as a coach wouldn’t be appropriate at this stage.”

Hird made a rare official public appearance at last year’s Grand Final, presenting the Norm Smith Medal to Dustin Martin.

AFL coaching great Kevin Sheedy said in November that Hird has the capabilities to return to a senior coaching role if he was interested.