THERE are some at Essendon who were not surprised to learn of Mike Fitzpatrick’s savaging of former Swans chairman Richard Colless, as revealed in Wednesday’s Herald Sun.

The F bombs and C bombs from Fitzpatrick to Colless over the Buddy Franklin affair might be rare, but not the intimidatory style of the AFL Commission chairman.

In his dealings with the Bombers in the days leading up to the August 2013 drugs hearing and in particular around James Hird’s future, Fitzpatrick took no prisoners.

While former chief executive Andrew Demetriou was known for his forthright ways and threats, Fitzpatrick seemed more like the silent assassin.

Fitzpatrick’s attempts to do a deal with Essendon chairman Paul Little, which involved Australian Sports Commission chairman John Wylie, were shambolic.

Text messages between Little and Hird at the time explain Fitzpatrick’s fiery mood.

media_camera Gillon McLachlan and Mike Fitzpatrick reportedly met with Essendon officials. Picture: Nicole Garmston

The two messages from Little to Hird came on the night before the so-called hearing was to be held.

“James AFL telling me you are trying to change the negotiated deal. I can’t help you any further James as Fitzpatrick has the s---s and the Total deal now has the wobbles up. I will have to cut you loose. I thought you & I had an agreement. I need to know this afternoon what your decision is. Paul.’’

The second said: “James AFL have said they will not do EFC deal unless we stand you down. Your decision not to take 12 months is going to impact the total club. This dispute is about to get very messy because you won’t take another 6 months ie a total of 12. If you really want to do what’s in the best interest of the club & its players take 12 months. Anything else will be selfish. Paul.’’

All this before the hearing, which goes to show it wasn’t a hearing at all.

Fitzpatrick’s contempt for Hird knows no bounds.

When Hird returned to Australia at the end of the 2014 season, Hird, Little, Fitzpatrick and Gillon McLachlan had a meeting at Fitzpatrick’s home in South Yarra around about Derby Day.

media_camera James and Tania Hird leaves Federal Court. Picture: Mark Stewart

What started as hopes of a sit down and an attempt to move on from the ASADA wars, ended with terse words from Fitzpatrick to Hird.

It’s believed Fitzpatrick asked Hird why he had not stood down and why he didn’t work within the AFL system. Hird responded he didn’t trust the AFL system or the people involved.

Fitzpatrick was adamant the Bombers players had taken banned drugs and said the evidence would prove it. It did not, and the case is now with WADA on appeal

Fitzpatrick and Hird have not spoken since the meeting.

It’s interesting because they once were close. So close that in 2008, Fitzpatrick asked Hird to push an idea at the Federal Government’s Australia 2020 Summit, where 1000 prominent Australians were invited to propose or discuss ideas about the challenges facing the nation.

Fitzpatrick had asked Hird to offer an idea, from a family member or from a friend of the family.

Those days of constructive talks are well gone.

Fitzpatrick also has his fingerprints over the dealing of Essendon doctor Bruce Reid.

Reid, who was initially charged with Hird, Danny Corcoran, Mark Thompson and the club over the club’s governance failings, was told that he would have to step aside if he took Supreme Court action against the AFL.

Reid refused to step aside and believed the AFL, led by Fitzpatrick, was threatening him.

The AFL later, in one of the biggest mysteries of the saga, dropped all charges against Reid.