Coach Men's Coaches 2025 - Refresh needed for 2026? Linked to Hinkley...

[eth-dog]

Essendon 2025 AFL coaching structure ​

Senior Coach – Brad Scott
Assistant Coach (Midfield) – 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

Assistant Coach (Stoppages) – Brent Stanton

Brent Stanton

Age

39

Ht

183cm

Wt

82kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.1

4star

K

10.7

4star

HB

5.4

4star

M

5.4

5star

T

2.9

4star

CL

0.9

3star

No current season stats available

D

16.8

4star

K

11.2

4star

HB

5.6

4star

M

6.2

5star

T

2.2

4star

CL

0.6

3star

Assistant Coach (Defence) – Ben Jacobs
Assistant Coach (Forwards) – Cam Roberts
Coaching Innovation & Game Strategy Manager – David Rath
Development Coach/VFL Senior Coach – Cameron Joyce
Development Coach/VFL Assistant Coach – Michael Hurley

18

Michael Hurley

Age

35

Ht

193cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

18.3

5star

K

12.1

4star

HB

6.2

4star

M

6.4

5star

T

0.9

3star

MG

389.3

5star

D

16.5

4star

K

11.8

5star

HB

4.7

3star

M

6.3

5star

T

0.3

1star

MG

301.2

4star

D

15.0

4star

K

7.6

3star

HB

7.4

5star

M

5.0

5star

T

2.0

4star

Development Coach/VFL Assistant Coach - Ricky Dyson
Development Coach/VFL Assistant Coach – Travis Cloke

 

[eth-dog]

Would’ve given it to cloke over joyce

Cool. Maybe Cloke didn't want it. He had a head coaching gig with us and gave it up for his current position

 

[ant555]

Would’ve given it to cloke over joyce

Then we would be looking for a new development coach when we are already well into pre season.
All he has to do is steer the bus in the same direction we were going. The base work has been done.

 

[Zach Package]

Am I right in saying this is the role that Paddy Ryder held for like 10 minutes 18 months ago and has been seemingly vacant ever since?

 

[Lore]

Am I right in saying this is the role that Paddy Ryder held for like 10 minutes 18 months ago and has been seemingly vacant ever since?

Yep. Quinton Narkle was helping him as well and then they both left for different reasons.

Not sure if it’s been vacant but whoever had it in between wasn’t publicised. Before Ryder it was Jacara Egan.

 

[jannissary]

pretty interesting video, i think

 

[Donflicted]

RIP Taps

 

[LB#16]

It will be interesting to see if there's another review of the coaches. I still don't understand how Brent Stanton

Brent Stanton

Age

39

Ht

183cm

Wt

82kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.1

4star

K

10.7

4star

HB

5.4

4star

M

5.4

5star

T

2.9

4star

CL

0.9

3star

No current season stats available

D

16.8

4star

K

11.2

4star

HB

5.6

4star

M

6.2

5star

T

2.2

4star

CL

0.6

3star

is around. His smirking in the last few review videos have been less than impressive.

 

[div12ressie]

It will be interesting to see if there's another review of the coaches. I still don't understand how Brent Stanton is around. His smirking in the last few review videos have been less than impressive.

Stanton is a space cadet no idea why he’s still employed

 

[faible]

Stanton is a space cadet no idea why he’s still employed

Brought across IP from that successful club environment at checks notes Carlton

 

[ant555]

Brought across IP from that successful club environment at checks notes Carlton

Well he is well versed in what not to do

 

[naraku]

I would be happy if they review all coaches, especially Stanton and I think Jacobs was always a weird one.

 

[Zach Package]

A Mabo assessment based purely on vibes:

Jacobs: Backs are developing ok and he is spoken of highly, also Scott's pet, can stick around?
Gia: Apparently highly regarded within the industry and is apparently going to stay, if he's looking after ball movement and transition that is a red flag
Stanton: Time for a change you'd think, if only for a fresh voice, been around the club for 4-5 years now so a holdover from the previous administration, I was surprised he wasn't asked to coach the ressies again after Tapping passed.
Roberts: Potentially time for another change there as well, has been around the block and done a number of different roles everywhere, at one stage he had the mids and he hasn't got anything going there.
Joyce: Interim hire I know, he underwhelms me

There has to be a team defence whiz out there somewhere, if Melbourne blows up I'd be making a very strong approach to Troy Chaplin

Troy Chaplin

Age

39

Ht

195cm

Wt

97kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.8

4star

K

8.8

3star

HB

6.9

4star

M

5.5

5star

T

1.8

4star

MG

194.4

3star

No current season stats available

D

13.2

4star

K

7.2

3star

HB

6.0

4star

M

5.4

5star

T

0.6

3star

.

 

[eth-dog]

A Mabo assessment based purely on vibes:

Jacobs: Backs are developing ok and he is spoken of highly, also Scott's pet, can stick around?
Gia: Apparently highly regarded within the industry and is apparently going to stay, if he's looking after ball movement and transition that is a red flag
Stanton: Time for a change you'd think, if only for a fresh voice, been around the club for 4-5 years now so a holdover from the previous administration, I was surprised he wasn't asked to coach the ressies again after Tapping passed.
Roberts: Potentially time for another change there as well, has been around the block and done a number of different roles everywhere, at one stage he had the mids and he hasn't got anything going there.
Joyce: Interim hire I know, he underwhelms me

There has to be a team defence whiz out there somewhere, if Melbourne blows up I'd be making a very strong approach to Troy Chaplin.

Personally hoping for a complete cleanout (Gia to get a head gig somewhere hopefully).

 

[Yoda_]

So 'soft cap' is rumoured to be going up $750,000

can we reset the assistant coaches we've got.

wouldn't mind getting a goal kicking coach(part time), a mindset coach and a tackling coach (rugby league, part time) into the club

 

[Lore]

So 'soft cap' is rumoured to be going up $750,000

can we reset the assistant coaches we've got.

wouldn't mind getting a goal kicking coach(part time), a mindset coach and a tackling coach (rugby league, part time) into the club

we already have a sports psychologist

why would a rugby tackling coach be better than an AFL one for an AFL team? surely the rules are wildly different

 

[Yoda_]

we already have a sports psychologist

why would a rugby tackling coach be better than an AFL one for an AFL team? surely the rules are wildly different

NRL is built around tackling and deffensive prowess, AFL is built on ball movement.

I didn't realise we had a sports physchologist

 

[Yoda_]

 

[Schnitzengruben]

It surpises me that for such a big club, we've really settled for a mediocre off field setup.

Roberts and Stanton need go at the very least. You can't sit there and tell me that Ben Jacobs as defence coach is our best bet either.

Ross Lyon figured out Rath pretty quickly - how long will it take Brad?

 

[windyhill]

I didn't realise we had a sports physchologist

Who is currently seeking their own help due to being Essingtoned.

 

[Nicholas61]

Been waiting since that 2019 final at Optus when WCE told their players to slap the arm of any Essendon player attempting to tackle and you'll then walk through them. I thought it would be more simple but I guess these things now take decades to address.

 

[ant555]

It surpises me that for such a big club, we've really settled for a mediocre off field setup.

Roberts and Stanton need go at the very least. You can't sit there and tell me that Ben Jacobs as defence coach is our best bet either.

Ross Lyon figured out Rath pretty quickly - how long will it take Brad?

Ross cleaned everyone out. He was not figuring anything out. He was brining in his own guys. he was his own strategist which is the role Rath filled.

People mention Jacobs or Stanton but there roles are more running the coaches program. Not like Stanton is setting up his own midfield program. He is actually the assistant assistant midfield coach.

We saw with Caracella how well a strong minded assistant coach with his own ideas worked under a new coach.

It may not look exciting for the supporters but in reality all the junior assistants need to have is an understanding of what the senior coach wants to implement and a good repore with the players. They stay in their lane.

If you are looking to shake things up then you start looking at the senior guy in Gia who is the one who will be questioning the coach.

 

[Schnitzengruben]

Ross cleaned everyone out. He was not figuring anything out. He was brining in his own guys. he was his own strategist which is the role Rath filled.

People mention Jacobs or Stanton but there roles are more running the coaches program. Not like Stanton is setting up his own midfield program. He is actually the assistant assistant midfield coach.

We saw with Caracella how well a strong minded assistant coach with his own ideas worked under a new coach.

It may not look exciting for the supporters but in reality all the junior assistants need to have is an understanding of what the senior coach wants to implement and a good repore with the players. They stay in their lane.

If you are looking to shake things up then you start looking at the senior guy in Gia who is the one who will be questioning the coach.

Ross cleared house because many of the previous appointments were rubbish and he knew they were setup up for failure. As I said, he figured out Rath pretty quickly. I will trust my sources on this one.

Aren't all assistants really just running the coaches program? They can't be running their own program in a vacuum. I'm all for replacing Gia too, none of them should be safe. But guys like Stanton who get the arse from Carlton and winds back up his old club (what are the chances?) don't look like performance based hires to me. I think we can do much better in this area, across the board.

 

[ant555]

Ross cleared house because many of the previous appointments were rubbish and he knew they were setup up for failure. As I said, he figured out Rath pretty quickly. I will trust my sources on this one.

Aren't all assistants really just running the coaches program? They can't be running their own program in a vacuum. I'm all for replacing Gia too, none of them should be safe. But guys like Stanton who get the arse from Carlton and winds back up his old club (what are the chances?) don't look like performance based hires to me. I think we can do much better in this area, across the board.

Have some contact with Rath from his Hawks days and he was okay in a good system then. Would not doubt your source as far as the Saints go. Have no real inside line on them other than being on the outside looking on. Ross may have cleaned house because of several appointments being trash. I would not dispute it but the Saints are still trash and still not in a much better position so I would say their troubles run deeper than a few of their old staff.

As far as Stanton goes if he left tomorrow I would not blink an eye but the word is he is a good communicator and good with the players.
Funny thing about assistants. If they are not "sexy" then they are seen as an issue. Take Skipworth. Nearly every Essendon supporter had him in the gun as an average assistant. Now he has been at the Pies for a long time and is the senior assistant / midfield coach.

 

[justlookingaround]

I seriously don’t think the average footy fan can discern any part of an assistant coach’s performance from the outside and the whole ‘needs better assistants’ argument is usually just a cope

 

[crackers65]

David Rath, coaching innovation and game strategy manager. Does anyone know when he’s starting work?