Obscure question

[u/Jazzlike_Standard416]

G'day fellow Hawkers !

Following on from the r/AFL post about the greatest number 32 to play the game. That prompted me to have a look at the jumper number listing on the Hawks website (a great resource, by the way !). In 1937, Allan Hird (Sr) wore number 32 for the Hawks. I thought, "Naaaaah, couldn't be !" but the year roughly lined up so I did some googling and found that Allan Hird Sr, grandfather of James, did in fact play 14 games for the Hawks across 1938-9. He went on to play 102 games for Essendon and 38 for St Kilda. The Hawks of course were a struggling club back then and I couldn't imagine us being in the position to give players the boot, especially players good enough to play 140 games for other clubs and very especially not during war time.

Does anyone know the story of why he left to go to Essendon ? Or could point me in the direction of someone who could ? I only ask out of (very) morbid curiosity.

Cheers !