The father of former Essondon coach James Hird says he had no inkling his son was headed for a serious health scare, as he blasts the AFL as "thugs" and "bullies" over the treatment of the former footy great.
The Brownlow medallist was taken to hospital last week, amid reports of an overdose.
Allan Hird on Tuesday said he had no inkling his son's health was in danger.
"I had no inkling, just out of the blue, but anyway, that's where it is," he said.
"I don't really know what the cause is, that's really between Jim and God, I don't want to make any overt connection, I don't believe that it's appropriate."
They [AFL] are thugs, they're bullies. I did think they had some dignity and some integrity but they haven't got a moral compass.Allan Hird
Allan Hird said James was "fine" after being rushed to hospital, and would bounce back.
James Hird, 43, has kept a low public profile since he left Essendon in mid 2015, after his reputation was damaged by investigations into the club's 2012 supplements program which resulted in 34 past and present Bombers being banned.
Allan Hird said his son's treatment was the result of a conspiracy between the federal government, Essendon board members, the AFL and the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA).
"It was pretty apparent once the deal had been done, the Gillard government had got itself in a hole -- remember Jason Clare the (then) justice minister and Kate Lundy the (then) sports minister overblew that crime commission report enormously -- and they needed something and they did that for political reasons," he said.
"It was when the minister for Dobell (Craig Thomson) was in that sex scandal using money for prostitutes, two ministers had resigned, they were well behind in the polls, the treasurer had just announced -- after saying for four years they were going to have a surplus -- they weren't going to have a surplus."
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