Coach Men's Assistant Coaches 2026 - Jacobs quits - 29/5

[eth-dog]

Essendon 2026 AFL coaching structure ​

Senior Coach – Brad Scott Dean Solomon

Dean Solomon

Age

46

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

Assistant Coach (Midfield) – Ben Jacobs
Assistant Coach (Stoppages) – Brent Stanton

Brent Stanton

Age

40

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

& Midfield
Assistant Coach (Defence) – Dean Solomon

Dean Solomon

Age

46

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

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

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 – Toby McLean

16

Toby Mclean

Age

30

Ht

181cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

19.7

5star

K

9.0

3star

HB

10.7

5star

M

3.6

4star

T

4.0

5star

CL

2.4

4star

D

15.5

4star

K

6.5

3star

HB

9.0

4star

M

1.3

1star

T

3.5

4star

CL

2.0

4star

D

16.8

4star

K

8.2

4star

HB

8.6

5star

M

5.0

5star

T

1.8

4star

CL

0.8

3star

Ruck - Goldy

 

[eth-dog]

Gia maybe up for the Melbourne job? If so, I'm hoping to clear the decks (although Jacobs probably stays as he seems to be Brad's pet).

Defence: Jacobs
Midfield: Matthew Boyd

Matthew Boyd

Age

43

Ht

184cm

Wt

88kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

25.0

5star

K

13.5

5star

HB

11.6

5star

M

5.1

5star

T

3.4

5star

MG

452.0

5star

No current season stats available

D

7.0

2star

K

3.4

2star

HB

3.6

3star

M

1.6

2star

T

1.0

3star

(Very underrated player and one of the smartest footballer's I've seen on field)
Stoppages: Luke Shuey

13

Luke Shuey

Age

35

Ht

184cm

Wt

89kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

23.7

5star

K

13.0

5star

HB

10.7

5star

M

3.3

3star

T

4.9

5star

CL

5.6

5star

D

18.7

4star

K

10.8

4star

HB

7.8

4star

M

2.8

3star

T

2.7

4star

CL

4.3

5star

D

17.0

5star

K

9.2

4star

HB

7.8

5star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.8

5star

CL

1.4

4star

(West Coast connection, usually pretty smart)
Forward: Luke Breust

22

Luke Breust

Age

35

Ht

182cm

Wt

82kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.6

4star

K

8.0

3star

HB

6.7

4star

M

3.4

3star

T

4.0

5star

G

1.9

5star

D

10.0

3star

K

6.0

2star

HB

4.0

3star

M

1.3

1star

T

4.8

5star

G

1.5

5star

D

9.8

3star

K

6.0

3star

HB

3.8

3star

M

2.4

3star

T

2.8

5star

G

1.8

5star

The development and VFL coaches I'm less worried about though

 

[ydc55]

I think Callan Ward

8

Callan Ward

Age

36

Ht

187cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

22.8

5star

K

11.2

4star

HB

11.5

5star

M

3.8

4star

T

4.3

5star

CL

5.4

5star

D

17.8

4star

K

9.0

4star

HB

8.8

4star

M

2.3

2star

T

2.3

3star

CL

3.3

4star

D

10.0

3star

K

4.4

2star

HB

5.6

4star

M

3.0

3star

T

1.8

4star

would be a terrific acquisition for our club.
He is an upgrade on Brent Stanton

Brent Stanton

Age

40

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

.
I think a director of coaching type role would be beneficial.
Ken Hinkley would fit the bill.
I think a flaw of Scott is he lacks creativity in his match day performance.

 

[eth-dog]

I think Callan Ward would be a terrific acquisition for our club.
He is an upgrade on Brent Stanton.
I think a director of coaching type role would be beneficial.
Ken Hinkley would fit the bill.
I think a flaw of Scott is he lacks creativity in his match day performance.

Would absolutely be behind both of these, however that's one of Hinkley's big flaws as well.

 

[ydc55]

Would absolutely be behind both of these, however that's one of Hinkley's big flaws as well.

I think he is tactically ok.
I think he is a real relationship builder and that could be beneficial as well.
He is also very close with Zak Butters !!!!!!!!!!!

 

[bommer16]

Ess spoke to Ken???

 

[jdBombers3598]

caro reckons essendon and hawthorn have offered ken hinkley a role

 

[ghostdog]

Might be getting some support from Kenny?

 

[soafraid]

Ess spoke to Ken???

this is most likely just ken's manager just trying to drum up a job for him. i can't imagine any club is stupid enough to take him.

 

[bommer16]

Interesting. Not what I expected. Anything’s possible w Ess though.

 

[SpeckieMcVeigh]

I would take Hinkley on our staff in a heartbeat (and I guess he can bring his son Butters with him).

 

[ghostdog]

I would take Hinkley on our staff in a heartbeat (and I guess he can bring his son Butters with him).

Yep. Not unhappy with that, as long as Ken can stay in his lane.

 

[Vindicater]

Yep. Ken would be a good get.

Then Butters next season.

 

[ghostdog]

this is most likely just ken's manager just trying to drum up a job for him. i can't imagine any club is stupid enough to take him.

Why would it be stupid?

 

[Call Me Cake]

Ess spoke to Ken???

Rumor or not, don't like it. Dude needs a spell and doesn't seem like the type that'll want to have a "back seat". Think he's overcooked for now and would likely clash with Scott. No thanks.

 

[windyhill]

this is most likely just ken's manager just trying to drum up a job for him. i can't imagine any club is stupid enough to take him.

No offence mate, but Essendon & stupidity go hand in hand.

 

[Mercurial89]

Rumor or not, don't like it. Dude needs a spell and doesn't seem like the type that'll want to have a "back seat". Think he's overcooked for now and would likely clash with Scott. No thanks.

I think it's more a clash in styles with Scott being pretty even at all times where as Ken seems to be very emotional and his players play like that, than Ken overstepping.

I reckon his football knowledge would be a good thing but maybe not in our current setup.
He would probably be good in a mark Williams at Melbourne role somewhere.

 

[ghostdog]

I think it's more a clash in styles with Scott being pretty even at all times where as Ken seems to be very emotional and his players play like that, than Ken overstepping.

I reckon his football knowledge would be a good thing but maybe not in our current setup.
He would probably be good in a mark Williams at Melbourne role somewhere.

My concern would be whether Ken would be able to change hats and stick to his role, but his footy brain could be really valuable, especially on game day. Also a good culture person.

 

[Yoda_]

Id be looking to get someone who has come from a successful, team orientated system

whats Taylor Duryea

15

Taylor Duryea

Age

35

Ht

181cm

Wt

81kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.0

4star

K

10.7

4star

HB

5.3

4star

M

5.3

5star

T

2.1

4star

No current season stats available

D

16.0

4star

K

9.6

4star

HB

6.4

4star

M

4.6

5star

T

1.8

4star

doing? Callan Wards wife is already back in Melbourne. Breust would be great

 

[Skipper_]

Id be looking to get someone who has come from a successful, team orientated system

whats Taylor Duryea doing? Callan Wards wife is already back in Melbourne. Breust would be great

I’d be after Mitch Duncan

 

[Yoda_]

I’d be after Mitch Duncan

won't surprise if Mitch is home in WA in 2026

 

[ghostdog]

Id be looking to get someone who has come from a successful, team orientated system

whats Taylor Duryea doing? Callan Wards wife is already back in Melbourne. Breust would be great

Yes. Breust to organise the forwardline would be great.

 

[LB#16]

Grain of as it's from Carowhine.

 

[Zach Package]

Ken as a strong opposing voice to Scott would be a good thing. He’s not a yes man and he’s a straight shooter

 

[Schnitzengruben]

Hopefully not a Kyle Dunkley

48

Kyle Dunkley

Age

25

Ht

185cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.6

2star

K

6.8

3star

HB

2.8

2star

M

4.4

4star

T

2.0

4star

CL

0.6

3star

No current season stats available

D

9.6

3star

K

6.8

3star

HB

2.8

3star

M

4.4

4star

T

2.0

4star

CL

0.6

3star

situation and we actually do want him as an assistant (or Mark Williams type role) because I think he'd be a fantastic addition to the club.