The Hird name will continue its connection to Essendon for at least one more generation with Tom Hird being signed to the club as a Category B rookie.
Hird, the son of club legend and former coach James, joins on a two-year deal as a non-registered athlete, meaning he could be signed at any time as he hasn't played footy for at least three years.
The teenager was a promising junior soccer player, and has had several trials in Europe, most recently in the Netherlands.
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Bombers list manager Adrian Dodoro spoke about Hird following the announcement.
"We are really pleased to welcome Tom to the club as a Category B rookie signing,” Dodoro said.
"Tom trained with our club in early 2019 after being granted permission to train in accordance with AFL rules. 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.
"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."
Last September, James spoke about Tom's soccer ambitions on Santo, Sam & Ed's 2 on 1 podcast.
"One of our boys did a trial at Stoke I think two years ago and did really well," Hird said.
"But the fact they wanted him to come over and stay there when he was 15 going into year 10, there was no way - this child is going to come back and get his education.
"There was a place for three months but there was no guarantee. It’s a really tough road for kids from Australia."
If Tom can get a senior game, he'll become the fourth generation of Hirds to feature for the club, with James' father Allan and grandfather Allan Snr having also played at Windy Hill.
Stephanie Hird, the eldest of James and Tanya's four kids, also played a game for the club's VFLW side in 2018.
