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2 sources checked · 2 source groups included · 39m ago

Still Watching

Hird 'precluded' from Bombers coach hunt

AFL journalist Damian Barrett says the Essendon coach criteria should have "precluded" James Hird from the process months before a decision was made.

1 Left1 Center0 Right
Still watching. Optics is waiting for a cleaner match before calling the split.

STILL WATCHING

As of August 24, 2026 at 11:40 PM, this is how Optics News reads the wording differences in this story.

What happened AFL journalist Damian Barrett says the Essendon coach criteria should have "precluded" James Hird from the process months before a decision was made.
The headline split The headlines are mostly aligned. The differences are small wording choices, not a major framing split.
Match confidence Developing. The source map is still developing. Keep watching for more sources to join.
Same-event confidenceDeveloping

Not enough sources yet to confirm this is the same specific event.

WHAT EACH SIDE EMPHASIZED

Left / center-leftHird 'precluded' from Bombers coach hunt

The Age (Australia) · Center-left · News report

CenterHird 'precluded' from Bombers coach hunt

The Sydney Morning Herald · Center · News report

Right / center-rightNo matching source in this bucket yet.

Optics keeps watching for pickup.

SEE THE HEADLINES

CenterHigh
The Sydney Morning HeraldNews report · Aug 24, 11:40 PM

Hird 'precluded' from Bombers coach hunt

AFL journalist Damian Barrett says the Essendon coach criteria should have "precluded" James Hird from the process months before a decision was made.

Open source
Center-leftMostly Factual
The Age (Australia)News report · Aug 24, 11:40 PM

Hird 'precluded' from Bombers coach hunt

AFL journalist Damian Barrett says the Essendon coach criteria should have "precluded" James Hird from the process months before a decision was made.

Open source
Details0/99 Wording Gap · Low confidence · 2 sources
0/99 Wording GapLow confidence2 sources · 2 bias bucketsDeveloping · 2 sources · 2 bucketsFormats: News report

SOURCE MAP CHANGES

Aug 24, 11:40 PM: The Sydney Morning Herald joined the source map.

Aug 24, 11:40 PM: The Age (Australia) joined the source map.

Now: Wording Gap is 0/99 and story health is developing · 2 sources · 2 buckets.