Tom Hird Biography

Essendon delist Tom Hird, Tom Cutler and Garrett McDonagh.

"These three players handled this news with great professionalism and we wish them all the best for their future endeavours. They will always be welcome at the Essendon Football Club," Essendon general manager of football Josh Mahoney said.

Tom Hird is set to miss the rest of the 2020 season after scans revealed a navicular stress fracture in his foot.

"Tom will rest his foot for the next period and we will continue to monitor his progress but it will be a longer-term injury," Essendon football manager Dan Richardson said.

"It's a disappointing setback for Tom after his start with the club in recent months, and with the nature of navicular injuries, we will continue to take full caution approaching Tom's rehabilitation over the coming weeks."

A failed attempt to be signed by Dutch soccer club Ajax led Tom Hird back to AFL. European clubs are given a select amount of visa spots for non-European Union players and this ultimately ended his soccer dream.

"They said to me, 'You're a talented player; if you were Dutch or European you'd have a shot but basically we can fill your spot with a player who doesn't require a visa'," Hird said.

Less than three months after his trial at Ajax and just two weeks after turning out for Port Melbourne in the NPL Victoria competition, Hird's AFL ambitions took a major step forward when he signed as a Category B rookie for the Bombers.

"Obviously it's something I dreamed of as a kid," Hird said.

"I've had a heavy involvement in footy for most of my life, so it's not as if it's completely foreign. Up until the age of 13 or 14 it was my goal to be an AFL footballer."

Tom Hird, the son of Essendon great and former coach James Hird, signs as a Category B rookie with the Bombers.

"We have been following him closely in the event he chose to return to football from elite soccer and pleasingly for our club, he has come to that decision," Essendon list manager Adrian Dodoro said.

"He is an athletic young sportsman with natural talent, but we will be taking a patient approach with his development as he begins to build his strength.

"We're thrilled to have Tom join the red and black and watch him develop as a player over the coming years."