James Hird's re-introduction to public life is slowly gathering steam.
Essendon's former champion player and coach will travel to Tasmania with former club president Paul Little this week to meet, and speak to, a Dons' coterie group.
It is believed to be the first time Hird has attended an official club function since resigning as senior coach in late 2015, and then effectively withdrawing from public life.
Little, who took over as president from Hird's one-time close mate David Evans, has been instrumental in trying to get the 2013 Brownlow Medallist and 2000 premiership captain back in the Bombers' fold - after a tumultuous past four years.
In August 2013, Hird was suspended from coaching for 12 months when he was charged by the AFL with conduct prejudicing the game for his role in the supplements scandal. He returned to the club following the 2014 season, but resigned in August 2015.
In January this year, Hird was taken to a private hospital in Melbourne following a drug overdose and subsequently underwent recovery in a psychiatric facility.
He later wrote in a column for the Herald Sun that he reached his "breaking point" after "years of continual stress".
The former footy great has, however, been seen at both the Prahran and Box Hill markets, selling a new range of chocolate which he and two business partners import from Colombia.
The group has acquired the Australian license for the chocolate which is made from Cacao beans grown and harvested in Colombia. Hird has reportedly made several trips to South America to learn more about the company and the chocolate-making process.
"It is a lot more fun than football coaching, I can tell you that,'' Hird told the Herald Sun in April. "I was at the Box Hill market before Christmas which raised a few eyebrows, but it is a lot of fun.''
The man who replaced Hird as Essendon's coach, former West Coast champion John Worsfold has said he hopes Hird will return to the club in 2017, given his status as one of the most important figures in the club's history.
Speculation rises amidst Kelly dominance
Robert Shaw, the school footy coach of Josh Kelly, is unsurprised by the Greater Western Sydney star's rise in form as speculation surrounding his football future reaches fever pitch. As many as five clubs, most recently Carlton, have been linked with Kelly on multi-year, lucrative deals, exceeding $1 million per season.
Shaw, the former Fitzroy and Adelaide coach who is now in charge of Brighton Grammar's successful First XVIII, says Kelly is one of the school's strongest AFL products and trusts he'll make the best decision for himself.
"This sums up Josh. The bigger the speculation and the more the pressure rises, the better he plays," Shaw told ESPN.
"[But] don't ask me what he'll do (next year) because I have no idea and I'd never ask him.
"It clearly gives me an indication he's not fazed by pressure, or fazed by speculation. He'll work with his mum and dad and his manager and he'll sort [his contract] out.
"You've just seen a real spark in his performance. He is what he is. I don't think he's changed much at all since he played at school.
"[He's] very low key, very humble person and he'll just go with the flow."
As the frenzied speculation has reached new heights, so too have Kelly's efforts: the 22-year-old is averaging 33 disposals in his last five matches.
But Kelly is not the only Giant out of contract at season's end. Zach Williams, Stephen Coniglio, Jacob Hopper, Sam Reid and Devon Smith are all seeking new deals.
Recruiter key to Schache staying
Brisbane young gun Josh Schache's recommitment to the fledging Lions has been credited to a club recruiter.
ESPN has been told Lions' recruitment consultant Leon Harris was integral to Schache signing a two-year deal last week, after the 19-year-old returned home to regional Victorian town, Seymour, to consider his AFL future.
Harris, a former AFL Victoria High Performance Manager who got to know Schache during his under-16 national carnival for Vic Country, is believed to have inspired the teenager to re-sign with the Lions.
Harris, a 186-game player for Fitzroy, was in regular contact with Schache during his hiatus and helped motivate the youngster commit to the club's bright future.
Schache, pick No.2 in the 2015 draft, had been linked to several Melbourne-based clubs who've made lucrative offers, with Richmond and Carlton the favoured destinations.
His father, Laurence, was a decorated SANFL player who played 29 games for the Brisbane Bears.
The youngster, however, has had a poor season so far, playing just six games and currently languishing in the Lions' NEAFL team.
Clarko gets off easy
The AFL chose to fine Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson $20,000 over the weekend for his ill-advised 'no comment' about the 'disgraceful umpiring' in the Hawks' loss to Gold Coast.
But three-quarters of that fine - $15,000 - was suspended, meaning the feisty Clarkson was actually only five grand out of pocket (unless, of course, he reoffends sometime in the next 15 months).
That has led to much scratching of heads and puzzlement among leading football figures. If the AFL really wanted to send a serious message in support of its umpiring fraternity why, they wondered, didn't it make an unambiguous statement about Clarkson's comments?
As a player, James Hird was slugged with a $20,000 fine back in 2004 for scathing criticism of field umpire Scott McLaren - interestingly, the same word 'disgraceful' was used then, as well - and last year North Melbourne coach Brad Scott copped a $30,000 sanction for suggesting umpires were biased against Lindsay Thomas.
Clarkson's criticisms might have been veiled but his message was clear: he thought the umpiring in the dying minutes of the MCG match was crap.
Yet, having cleverly orchestrated a public apology during Sunday's live telecast of Carlton-GWS, the Hawks' coach copped the limp lettuce-leaf treatment: a fine of roughly 0.5% of his annual salary.
Odd Facts & Figures
In a season of upsets ....
- The Brisbane Lions' win over Fremantle on Saturday means Port Adelaide is now the only side left in 2017 yet to beat a side sitting inside the top eight.
- The numbers of players on the Brisbane list who had beaten a Ross Lyon-coached side before the weekend: zero.
- Carlton's shock win over GWS on Sunday marked the first time a side sitting 17th or lower has beaten the side perched on top of the ladder.
- On a Round 5-12 AFL form ladder, just one win (+%) separates third place (Port Adelaide) from 17th (Gold Coast Suns). 250 games
- Greater Western Sydney defender Heath Shaw, a key member of Collingwood's 2010 premiership side, is due to reach the milestone this weekend.
Club Record Consecutive Games - North Melbourne's Sam Gibson plays his 120th consecutive game since his debut in Round 12, 2012, breaking the club record of Keith Greig (119 consecutive games, 1972-77).
50 consecutive games - Western Bulldogs' young star Marcus Bontempelli has played 49 consecutive games since round 12, 2015.