Allan Hird snr

Recruited from Williamstown, Hird began his VFL journey with a brief stint at Hawthorn before crossing to Essendon in 1940, where he truly made his mark. Dubbed "Racehorse" for his blistering speed, he developed into a versatile and dashing flanker who could operate effectively across half-back or half-forward. He became a fixture in the Bombers' lineup, playing 102 consecutive games and featuring prominently in the 1942 premiership side. His on-field leadership was recognised when he departed Windy Hill in 1946 to take up a role as captain-coach of St Kilda, though wins were hard to come by during his two seasons at the Saints.

Hird returned to Essendon in 1948 to captain-coach the reserves, guiding them to multiple flags before transitioning into administration. He served the club for decades off the field, eventually rising to the presidency in the late 1960s and overseeing a significant era of growth. His contribution was immortalised with a grandstand named in his honour at Windy Hill, but his most enduring link to the club remains the Hird dynasty; he was the father of Allan Hird Jr and the grandfather of Brownlow Medallist and club legend James Hird.