The race for Essendon Football Club’s vacant full-time senior coaching position has added a formal competitor, with interim head coach Dean Solomon confirming he will officially put his case forward for the permanent role in upcoming discussions with club leadership. Solomon steps into the contested process alongside other high-profile candidates including James Hird, Mark McVeigh, Jaymie Graham and Murray Davis, all vying for the top job at the AFL club. Solomon’s move to pursue the role comes after months of deliberate consideration, a delay he says was intentional to keep his focus where it matters most: guiding the team through a turbulent period following Brad Scott’s sudden sacking in May.
In comments made to media on Thursday, the 46-year-old premiership-winning former Essendon player outlined that the timeline for formal discussions has arrived, after club president Tim Roberts told him four to five weeks prior to prioritize in-game coaching first. “It is a discussion I am going to have with the club in the next week and we’ve sort of had that contact now,” Solomon explained. “We will sit down and have a conversation over the next week or so, with all due respect, I will probably want to have that discussion with them first then work from there. I think I said many weeks ago that Tim (Roberts), sort of mentioned to me, four or five weeks ago, ‘take your time, concentrate on coaching (and) doing what you have to do for this group and this footy club’ … at some point in time he’ll give us a tap on the shoulder and have that discussion. So that time has sort of come and we’ll sit and have a good chat about all things and I’ll put forward my thoughts on the current situation and the future.”
The former premiership Bomber also opened up about the multiple factors that extended his consideration process, most notably his family’s current residence outside of Victoria. “There’s multiple layers about where I’m currently at and the position I am in, my family, where they’re based,” he said. “That’s why it’s been a good thing to take the time to have a good think and respect the current position I am in, as well, as interim coach. My first priority always has been – and always will be – the players and making sure they get the best opportunity they can to be the best they can be.”
Solomon’s tenure as caretaker has been marked by a slow start before a landmark breakthrough win: after nine straight winless matches across his two stints as interim coach (including three games at the helm back in 2017), Essendon snapped its long drought with a victory over Greater Western Sydney at Marvel Stadium a fortnight ago, which lifted the club off the bottom of the AFL ladder. Despite the challenging win-loss record for most of his time in charge, Solomon says he has deeply valued the opportunity to lead the side through transition. “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity, massive challenge, obviously on the back of losing your coach, it’s always a challenge taking on the interim role and what flows on from that,” he said. “But I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the challenge with this, binding a coaching group, a football department and a playing group. Really working hard between Monday and Friday to ensure we get good momentum finishing the year off and making decisions around the medium-to-long term for the club.”
He added that while the team’s results have not met expectations, the side has shown clear improvement in patches, and the coaching group has worked to implement meaningful shifts in the team’s playing style. “In all honesty, I’m just happy to play the role I’ve had to play for the past 12-13 weeks for this football club and I hope it helps it in the medium-to-long term,” Solomon said. The club will hold formal interviews with all candidates in the coming days, with a final decision on the permanent senior coach expected in the near future.