Coach Who should be our next coach?

[Lore]

Spoiler: Timeline and reported candidates

15/8 Board toppled (reportedly will pursue Clarkson)
19/8 Alastair Clarkson to join North
21/8 Ben Rutten

Ben Rutten

Age

42

Ht

190cm

Wt

98kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.4

3star

K

6.3

2star

HB

7.0

4star

M

5.3

5star

T

1.3

3star

No current season stats available

D

10.6

3star

K

6.2

3star

HB

4.4

4star

M

3.6

4star

T

1.0

3star

sacked
22/8 Coach selection sub-committee to be established to find a replacement
26/8 Committee members announced: Josh Mahoney

Josh Mahoney

Age

48

Ht

180cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.3

3star

K

6.8

3star

HB

4.5

3star

M

3.5

4star

T

1.6

4star

G

0.9

4star

No current season stats available

D

9.2

3star

K

5.4

2star

HB

3.8

3star

M

2.2

3star

T

1.6

4star

G

0.4

3star

(GM-Footy, chair), Dorothy Hisgrove (Board member), Andrew Thorburn, Simone McKinnis, Robert Walls, Jordan Lewis

Jordan Lewis

Age

39

Ht

186cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

D/M

Career

Season

Last 5

D

23.5

5star

K

12.1

4star

HB

11.5

5star

M

5.5

5star

T

2.7

4star

MG

310.5

4star

No current season stats available

D

15.0

4star

K

6.8

3star

HB

8.2

5star

M

4.8

5star

T

2.8

5star

7/9 James Hird, Dean Solomon

Dean Solomon

Age

45

Ht

189cm

Wt

102kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.8

4star

K

9.4

4star

HB

5.5

4star

M

3.9

4star

T

3.7

5star

No current season stats available

D

17.6

5star

K

13.4

5star

HB

4.2

4star

M

6.2

5star

T

2.8

5star

, Brendon Lade

Brendon Lade

Age

49

Ht

199cm

Wt

102kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.4

3star

K

7.4

3star

HB

4.0

3star

HO

15.1

5star

No current season stats available

D

11.2

3star

K

6.8

3star

HB

4.4

4star

HO

9.6

5star

, Adem Yze

Adem Yze

Age

48

Ht

187cm

Wt

85kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

18.2

5star

K

14.4

5star

HB

3.8

3star

M

4.0

4star

T

1.7

4star

No current season stats available

D

5.2

2star

K

3.4

2star

HB

1.8

2star

M

0.6

1star

T

0.6

3star

interviewed at EY
13/9 Daniel Giansiracusa

Daniel Giansiracusa

Age

43

Ht

182cm

Wt

81kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.6

4star

K

11.0

4star

HB

6.6

4star

M

5.1

5star

T

2.4

4star

G

1.2

4star

No current season stats available

D

10.2

3star

K

7.4

3star

HB

2.8

3star

M

5.2

5star

T

2.0

4star

G

1.0

4star

reportedly interviewed
17/9 Don Pyke “not pursuing that at this stage”
21/9 Brad Scott contacted by the club but won’t make a decision on whether to pursue the role until after the Grand Final
21/9 Adem Yze

Adem Yze

Age

48

Ht

187cm

Wt

85kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

18.2

5star

K

14.4

5star

HB

3.8

3star

M

4.0

4star

T

1.7

4star

No current season stats available

D

5.2

2star

K

3.4

2star

HB

1.8

2star

M

0.6

1star

T

0.6

3star

has second interview and tours the training facilities at Tullamarine
22/9 Blake Caracella

Blake Caracella

Age

48

Ht

186cm

Wt

85kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.5

4star

K

10.1

4star

HB

6.4

4star

M

4.7

4star

T

1.4

3star

No current season stats available

D

13.2

4star

K

8.8

4star

HB

4.4

4star

M

4.0

4star

T

0.6

3star

will put his hat in the ring
27/9 Brendon Lade

Brendon Lade

Age

49

Ht

199cm

Wt

102kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.4

3star

K

7.4

3star

HB

4.0

3star

HO

15.1

5star

No current season stats available

D

11.2

3star

K

6.8

3star

HB

4.4

4star

HO

9.6

5star

appointed as assistant coach at the Western Bulldogs, out of the running for Essendon job
28/9 Brad Scott to be interviewed on Thursday
29/9

 

[frodos gardener]

Sounds like Ross wouldn’t mind his ego being stroked in any respect.

 

[Lore]

Sounds like Ross wouldn’t mind his ego being stroked in any respect.

He never has disliked that I think… or any coach perhaps

 

[adsla69k]

Genuinely don't get the obsession with bringing Hird back. Drug scandal aside, what was it about his previous stints as head coach that inspires so much confidence? We were 5-14 when he resigned last time

Had the team 13 and 3 in 2013 before the wheels fell off with everything. The rest was tainted there on after and can't be judged.

Might see a Ross Lyon & Hird combo lol. Ross is very smitten atm with being mentioned with the Ess role and even praised Barham on footy classified.

 

[BuffDog]

Yeah I didn’t realise Lyon has a relationship with Barham (who seems to know everyone), so you’d think he’d at least have a chat about the role

 

[Cold Sober]

Ross, thats his play. FO.

 

[Lore]

Here’s the clip:



Lot of nothing

 

[justlookingaround]

Ken's done great things to get Port into a competing side.
Seems weird how Port fans don't like him?

I just think he would be burnt out coming straight to Essendon from Port.
Seems another Lyon to Fremantle scenario. Worked for a bit, then went off the rails.

The way Hinkley gets treated by Port fans is downright despicable imo.
He's devoted 10+ years of his life to the place - they were completely irrelevant before he took over.

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

Here’s the clip:



Lot of nothing

Not sure willing to talk is nothing. He could have just said no interest whatsoever. Also said something about the lure of coaching a club like Essendon

 

[Lore]

Not sure willing to talk is nothing. He could have just said no interest whatsoever. Also said something about the lure of coaching a club like Essendon

He talked obliquely about the process he went through “last year” (read: the one Carlton put him through) and how exposed he was being too honest about that on Classified at the time, and how that had left him weary and cautious.

Then he was asked about whether he’d be willing to go through another hiring process and he was evasive.

Then he talked about Clarkson being headhunted for the job… (and that was all over the media for the better part of a week!) Which he brought up himself and no one followed up with what specifically about that was relevant.

Then he went back to talking about Barham giving him good media advice previously, how he respected Barham, and how Essendon is a historically great club.

Then they put him on the spot again and asked whether he’d entertain a conversation with Barham. He responded with something about if Barham calls him and said he would “mitigate his weariness and cautiousness…” and didn’t finish his sentence.

But I’m quite certain he wasn’t referring to Barham helping him keep his trap shut on Classified. That’s not something Barham can really do. I think he’s more weary and cautious about the process itself, or anyone knowing he was involved with it.

So my interpretation of that is that he’s saying “only if he was headhunted” and/or “only if it is done without daily leaks to the media”.


If it’s the latter, he’s dreaming. Essendon’s senior coaching role comes with stupid amounts of media scrutiny, it’s part of the job description whether the club is a colander or not.

 

[adsla69k]

I just want Hird. He is the only one that has the potential to lift the club up the highest and be the best coach. Unfortunately for him he put trust in others at the club that were only boys. He has learned his mistakes, he is calculated and meticulous, organised, process driven, very clever tactically and tough but yet approachable. He has the perfect balance to demand respect from the players and to not be too soft and be buddies like Rutten. You know he will give 100% and isn't in it for the money or the prestige. For Hird it's about revenge, it's about bringing the club back to where it should be. He will leave no stone unturned. No other coach will bring the heart, the passion. All the millennials dont know what it's like to experience what Hird led in 2000, so if they are the ones bitching they can stfu!
Seriously I think Hird will be the next Coach, too many coincidences with Gil leaving, the ESS exodus, supporters of Hird remain and the last of the EFC listed 34 SAGA players leaving this off-season. Also that 150 celebration at half time vs the Tigers with him coming out through the smoke.
Time to accept he is coming home!

 

[bombreys]

It’s insane that Hird is even in the conversation. Insane. Oh that’s right, sheedy. As I was saying, insane.

I think we just need a big refresh and need to flush out the old Essendon people. If Sheedy and Dodo go, I’d be happy with that.

Barham hasn’t had the greatest start - and the handling of Rutten’s exit was an absolute dog’s breakfast - but I think I actually want to see him get a chance. He seems to have respect industry-wide. He could just be another ‘good bloke’ (which it sounds like what Brasher was) that may not to turn out to be a good pres, but I want to see what he can do.

I wouldn’t put a total ban on Essendon people or anything, but Hird is not a good idea. Not now. If we hire a senior coach and McVeigh, as an example, became available as an assistant, I think that’d be okay.

With Hirdy, I’m not totally against a return to the club - now’s just not the right time. If he goes to another club as an assistant for 3-5 years and wants to return in some capacity down the track, I’d be all for it.

 

[tandino]

I think Ross probably can't admit to himself that it's over for him for whatever his reasons are.

 

[frodos gardener]

bombreys Side note, I don’t think it’s ever a good idea to flush out Essendon people completely. All good teams are about balance and diversity (of skills, experience, relationships, personality etc). You want to hold onto some of the special fibre of your club; you just don’t want so much of it that you become ineffective through lack of talent in other areas, particularly on a board. Wrong thread but I have no problem with an Essendon person being on the board or in admin or part of a coaching team as long as they’re the right person and bringing value.

 

[adsla69k]

I think Ross probably can't admit to himself that it's over for him for whatever his reasons are.

To me it sounded like Ross is interested in coaching EFC but doesn't want to get dragged through the media circus to get the job, he wants to circumvent that process all together. "You want me, here I am!" But also it sounds like day in, day out mid week AFL coach life that he isn't interested in as much. Training in the middle of winter in the cold rain etc. He appears to be comfy doing media now. Knowledgeable yes but might not have the heart.

 

[Bjchan13]

Here’s the clip:



Lot of nothing

He's keen. He will not make the same mistakes he made with Carlton last year. Sit down and a have some serious chats behind closed doors and he could be a really good fit for us. He's hungry and his record speaks for itself.

 

[yodellinhank]

Public square to hang, draw and quarter the coach when we decide to execute another coach as well?

Don the pyke?

 

[Lord Nicholson]

I think Ross probably can't admit to himself that it's over for him for whatever his reasons are.

Hopefully the club pursue him on the sound basis that the cosmic forces that govern the sport will not allow only 1 out of the 6 coaches to be involved in a drawn GF to never have been a premiership at any other stage.

Plus the supreme bridesmaid of VFL/AFL history should go back, naturally, to being a Pies man in Bob Rose.

 

[TheFrenchCut]

To the people saying they've boxed themselves in with the comments about needing an experienced coach...

Have you noticed that our (former) CEO, who attended a press conference about the coach we weren't sacking that we did sack, in the same day told us he felt safe in his role and wants to stay, before privately resigning?

These guys are living press conference to press conference at the moment. They'll say what they think they need to now and worry about the rest later.

 

[Run and carry]

The way Hinkley gets treated by Port fans is downright despicable imo.
He's devoted 10+ years of his life to the place - they were completely irrelevant before he took over.

Hinkley, to a degree, is the victim of Port's history in the SANFL.

The Magpies expected to make the grand final every year (which they invariably did for large chunks of their history) and anything less was a failure.

That mentality has carried to the AFL and it is to be applauded in one sense but it means they judge their coaches and seasons a bit more harshly than say.... Essendon.

 

[Mr Mojo Risin]

Regarding Hird, I don’t question he has everything it takes to be a great coach. I actually think he was becoming an excellent coach before everyone knows what.

I don’t want him as coach because I can’t see a way we hire him after following a proper and exhaustive process which means we will have learnt nothing.

I also don’t want him in any other role at the club because his presence will be destabilising. I also worry about his mental health.

So it’s a weird one. I really don’t want them to go down this path but I do believe in his ability to coach and be a unique figure to unite the club.

So if it happened I know I would get my head around it and be excited, but more because of the intangibles and not because we’ve learnt our lesson for a more sustainable path.

 

[thepokey]

I think Ross said it himself there - how he went about the Carlton stuff publicly last year was a mistake so now he's being even more cautious, so I'm not sure we'll get much from him

 

[HirdsTheWord]

hirds odds are worrying low

 

[JimmyBC]

Choco in a senior supporting role to an Yze or McVeigh would surely be a good outcome?

 

[BomberManU]

Defining moment for the club coming up, for me. Get a new coach, through a relatively transparent process, and I'll be very upbeat about 2023 and beyond. Go back to Hird and I'm done. This just cannot happen.
Lyon has to be the #1 target, for an interview. Unfortunately for Gia, I can't see someone being promoted from within, this time around.
The talk of Mark Williams is fanciful, in my opinion - he's not coming back.
McVeigh, not enough experience/need someone without ties to Ess. Would people seriously be considering him if he wasn't a former player?

 

[Bjchan13]

Choco in a senior supporting role to an Yze or McVeigh would surely be a good outcome?

Most would like Choco at the club in some capacity but we burnt him heading into 2016. Yze seems to be the consensus up and coming coach so him with some solid support would seem like a good choice from an outsiders view. No to Spike, Hird, Solomon etc. We need clear air.