Essendon coach James Hird says his home has never been raided by the Australian Federal Police, as claimed by former Bombers fitness coach Dean Robinson.
Robinson, in an explosive paid interview on Channel Seven on Wednesday night, claimed Hird’s house was once raided by the AFP over a drugs investigation related to Hird’s former personal trainer and convicted drug dealer Shane Charter.
“They’ve never raided my house,” Hird told reporters today.
Robinson, known as “The Weapon”, told Seven when sports scientist Stephen Dank joined Essendon on September 28, 2011, the pair went to Hird’s home that night and were told of the alleged raid several years earlier.
“He told us that at 5am … his house got raided,” Robinson said.
“They went through cereal boxes, cupboards, everywhere, looking for things.”
Robinson was stood down when the crisis broke on February 5 and resigned from Essendon last week. He intends to sue the club.
ASADA are close to finishing their investigation into the club.
Robinson claimed in the interview Hird drove Essendon’s controversial supplements program and has been untouchable at the AFL club.
Robinson said Essendon midfielder David Zaharakis was the only player who did not become involved in last year’s controversial supplements program.
Robinson said senior figures at the club, including former chief executive Ian Robson, knew exactly what was going on with the supplements program.
Hird said he had watched some of the interview, but had “definitely not” asked Robinson to investigate an untraceable testosterone cream, as claimed by the sacked fitness coach.
When asked if Robinson could be trusted, Hird said: “Who knows?”
Robinson also accused Hird of having “30-odd” injections of the drug Hexarelin, which is banned for players but not coaches.
Robinson said he saw Dank injecting the Essendon coach.
“I can confirm my lawyers have spoken with Steve Dank and he said that he did inject James Hird with Hexarelin on 30-odd occasions,” Robinson said.
“I would be estimating they were weekly or bi-weekly injections for at least half the season.
“In this whole thing, his story has changed – he said he never had any injections, ‘aw, I had two, I didn’t know what they were’.
“Well, we know that’s not the truth.”
Asked if had confronted Hird about the the supplements program, Robinson said: “Who challenges James Hird at Essendon?
“I tried a couple of times but I learnt pretty quickly that was something you don’t do.”
Hird, arguably the most famous figure in Essendon history, is adamant he is innocent of any wrongdoing.
“It was a boys’ club – whatever James Hird wanted, James Hird got,” Robinson said.
“It was no expense spared, it was ‘whatever it takes’.
“That was James Hird’s attitude.
“His actions, the way he’s handled himself, I have no respect for the guy any more.
“If he was honourable, he would stand down.
“… James Hird drove everything.”
An Essendon spokesman said of Robinson’s Hexarelin allegation: “This is an outrageous claim and will be legally challenged.”
In a statement issued after the Robinson interview aired on Seven, Essendon described Robinson as a disgruntled, disaffected and discredited former employee of the AFL club.
The Bombers are seeking legal advice.
“The club acknowledges that Dean Robinson appears to be under an extreme amount of pressure as are a number of people who are employed at Essendon,” the club said in a statement.
“However, the series of allegations made by Dean Robinson on Channel Seven tonight are totally without foundation.
“They are coming from a disgruntled, disaffected and discredited ex-employee.
“They are outrageous in nature and the club is seeking appropriate legal advice.”
