Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson has backed James Hird to return to an AFL role after the Essendon great was sounded out by Fremantle.
The Dockers are on the lookout for a new part-time opposition analyst based in Melbourne, and Fremantle have confirmed Hird is one of a number of potential candidates being considered for the role.
Hird quit the Bombers at the end of 2015 after the club's drawn-out supplements saga, which resulted in 34 past and present players being banned for the 2016 season.
But he was welcomed back into the AFL fold at last year's grand final when he presented the Norm Smith Medal to Richmond star Dustin Martin.
The AFL has stated it won't impede Hird if he wants to join a club in an official capacity.
And four-time premiership coach Clarkson believes there's no reason why Hird shouldn't be welcomed back.
"He's a pretty decorated servant of our game, and the Hird name goes back generations," Clarkson said on Saturday after Hawthorn's trial match against the Western Bulldogs.
"He made a mistake - we've all made them. And whatever mistakes they made at Essendon, I think their club and the code itself has dealt with that and let's move on.
"If there's an opportunity at Fremantle for Hirdy to take on a role there or if it's at the AFL or whether it's at another club, then I think it's a good thing for the game.
"He's a great person and a highly-decorated figure in the game."
Fremantle's hierarchy were saying little on Friday when reports surfaced that coach Ross Lyon had enquired about Hird's availability.
The Dockers released a statement later in the day confirming their interest.
"The club is going through a process to potentially appoint a part-time opposition analyst based in Melbourne," general manager of football operations Chris Bond said.
"We are in the early stages of considering a number of possible candidates and that process has not yet been completed."
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