Spruiker or the best coach? Essendon’s coaching decision looms

August 17, 2026 — 11:30am

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The top 10 is locked in. Josh Fraser is short odds to coach Carlton in 2027.

The big question this week is who will coach Essendon next year?

Whether it is announced before the Bombers’ wretched season is over or after Dean Solomon’s time as interim coach ends remains to be seen, too.

It’s impossible to get a direct answer on that from anyone connected to the decision at the club. Regardless of who is asked they maintain the stance that the selection panel is still contemplating whether to recommend that the board give the job to Fremantle’s Jaymie Graham or Adelaide’s Murray Davis or a former Bomber in James Hird or Mark McVeigh.

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The fact club president Andrew Welsh is overseas on business may have something to do with the timing, but he is due back this week.

The pundits expect McVeigh to win the job based on snippets of information rather than solid evidence, but until that news breaks – which could be any time from now on – uncertainty will prevail.

There is speculation that conversations have been happening about whether there could be a role to interest Hird if he did not become senior coach, but he has been on record that he started the process solely to become the senior coach.

Essendon’s rooms after the loss to Sydney on Sunday were less gloomy than one might have expected given the result. The time for devastation had well passed. To the seven players with fewer than 20 games’ experience, the adventure that is AFL football remains just that.

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Solomon says he has no idea when the decision will be announced.

His only focus is preparing the team to defeat Port Adelaide on Sunday in the final round at Marvel Stadium to honour captain Andrew McGrath’s 200th game milestone.

He wants to win regardless of the fact a third win of the season would likely be a farewell gift to the Tigers as it will – assuming Richmond lose to Geelong – lift Essendon off the bottom of the ladder and give the men from Punt Road first pick in the national draft.

“If it is this week or next week [the coaching appointment] won’t be a distraction,” Solomon said. “We are really clear on what this week needs to look like, and the players are going to lead a lot of that.”

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The interim coach is a fighter who earned his reputation as a straight-ahead backman when the Bombers were great back in the early part of the century. The president, Welsh, was his teammate for much of that time. Although Welsh didn’t play in a flag, he believes in the Bombers as much as Solomon.

That era seems a long time ago now (and it is), forcing Solomon to literally use the word “plead” when asking for the Bombers’ faithful to turn up for the final round after just 24,767 spectators turned up to the MCG on Sunday, the club’s lowest crowd at the venue since 1993.

“It’s really disappointing to see our crowds down. This is the Essendon Football Club and the members and supporters have been through a lot, but this is where we dig in, we support each other and we stay tight. We wade through the swamp together in the tough times, and then we all get to celebrate the good times ahead together,” he said.

The words were a sign that Solomon believes that whoever wins the coaching gig will need to reclaim the faith of a frustrated group of supporters, who have not seen a win at the MCG since the middle of last season.

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Of course, winning will make the most significant difference, which is why choosing the best coach will be more critical than giving the title to a spruiker.

Sydney don’t need to sell. They win often. They have missed just three finals series since the Bombers’ most recent finals win in 2004, playing in 43 finals for 22 wins and 21 losses in that time.

The fact one of their assistant coaches, McVeigh, could potentially be announced as the Essendon senior coach ahead of a finals campaign will be dealt with without too much fuss.

“[Mark] has been really respectful in doing what he has to do whilst also focusing a little bit on the future as well,” Cox said. “One thing this football club has done really well for a long period of time, be ready for the unexpected or if something does arise. We have had those meetings and discussions. We are really clear on what will happen if he was or wasn’t to get the position.”

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Adelaide and Fremantle will have that conversation, too, if their candidate wins the role, while Port Melbourne, where Hird works, would probably be less inconvenienced given his role there is part-time.

Essendon have one more match before a different era arrives. Solomon could not achieve what he wanted, and the crowds are waiting for that call to be made.

“It hasn’t turned out the way I would have loved it to turn out. I would have liked us to be a lot more competitive,” Solomon said. “I will always be protective of these colours.”

It won’t be Solomon but who will it be? That’s the question everyone is waiting to hear answered.

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Peter Ryan is a sports reporter with The Age.Connect via X or email.

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