Former North Melbourne mentor Brad Scott has been appointed Essendon’s new coach, edging out the likes of Adem Yze and club stalwart James Hird for the role.
The Bombers’ coaching selection panel, which is headlined by football boss Josh Mahoney and includes Robert Walls and Jordan Lewis, interviewed Scott on Thursday.
Hours later, Essendon formally announced the 46-year-old as their new coach.
Scott coached North Melbourne from 2010-19 but has most recently worked at the AFL, where this year he served as the league’s general manager of football.
He will be tasked with helping Essendon overcome almost two decades of mediocrity.
Essendon have not won a final since 2004 and were widely panned for the way they sacked coach Ben Rutten this year.
Rutten was not told of his axing until after the club’s bid to land Alastair Clarkson failed.
Essendon’s decision to interview Hird for the role also raised eyebrows given the club great was the coach of the Bombers during last decade’s supplements scandal.
Melbourne assistant Yze and former Gold Coast assistant Dean Solomon were the others in the running for the role.
Ex-St Kilda assistant Brendon Lade was also interviewed but pulled out to join the Western Bulldogs.
After Rutten was sacked, Essendon president David Barham made it clear he wanted an experienced hand at the helm, and Scott fitted the bill.
Scott coached the Kangaroos 211 times between 2010 and 2019, and had a winning record of 50.24 per cent, with 106 victories and 105 defeats.
He led North Melbourne to preliminary finals in 2014 and 2015.
“Throughout the process, it was clear the club required a strong leader and Brad’s track record as a player, coach and administrator demonstrated this,” Barham wrote in a letter to the club’s members announcing Scott’s appointment.
“Brad has an incredible resume, with a diverse range of roles and is the experienced figure the club required.
“We believe Brad has all the attributes to be the long-term coach of the Essendon Football club. He’s a strong leader who will drive standards and establish a winning culture.”
Scott is widely respected in the AFL, and is likely to be warmly received by Bombers fans.
But there is one notable person who may take some convincing about the new role for the former Kangaroos coach – his twin brother.
Dual Geelong premiership mentor Chris Scott said the stressful nature of coaching meant the role came at a cost.
“(Coaching) is not a very good job to be honest,” Chris Scott told Footy Classified, when asked prior to the appointment about his brother’s potential return to the fold.
“It’s just hard work. It’s a stressful existence. There’s a cost to that position and it needs to be weighed really carefully.”
Micko
Roar Rookie
Pavlich was horrendous that day too. Couldn't shoot fish in a barrel! :unhappy:
1dawg
Roar Rookie
The Tides went out on him .
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
He made two prelims in a row, that I believe is top four
RT
Roar Rookie
It worked. Hurrah.
Angela
Roar Rookie
I feel the same re the ads but gave up on this site when they became so disruptive it was nightmarish. I did send in a complaint but when nothing changed I went to Mozilla. I'm afraid if The Roar finds a way around Mozilla and their ad blocker I will give up on The Roar, which probably makes no difference to them.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
This is where Angela suddenly goes missing for 12 months after being permanently m*derated for her comments.
RT
Roar Rookie
I don't have a problem with ads, if it is done properly and the revenue is going to the website that I am reading. However, it is not done properly on The Roar anymore so time to follow your lead Angela.
Akitas
Roar Rookie
This should ensure Essendon finish in the bottom half of the ladder for the forseeable future, and it couldn't happen to a nicer club.
Akitas
Roar Rookie
In Scott's case, ten years without his team ever finishing in the top 4 says he is not that good. North Melbourne were a little slow to realise that but they eventually woke up.
Akitas
Roar Rookie
I am amazed he is allowed within 100 metres of any AFL club. For Essendon to even consider him for this role tells you the moral compass at Essendon is in need of repair.
Akitas
Roar Rookie
Completely unsubstantiated and anonymous allegations, by the way.
Footy fan in SG
Guest
Chris could go as Brad's Bupa twin: the better version of himself.
Footy fan in SG
Guest
That's an interesting revision of history there Micko. Lyon actually took a St Kilda that was built by Grant Thomas and on the rise. He left with immediate effect once the window closed, to a team that had been built by Harvey and was on the cusp of coming good (remember that Harvey took Freo to week 2 of the finals in the 2010). Lyon takes over when the lists have been developed and primed, he then puts in place a devastatingly dull game plan that will always have it's limitation of not being able to score enough against the genuinely better teams...then he doesn't win his flag, then he leaves. Lyon has never built a list. Lyon also quite obviously doesn't have an alternate game plan. We saw 12 years of drivel.
Homer Nixon
Guest
I'm not suggesting it. I'm openly stating it, and it is statistically true. North Melbourne were a better team than Essendon in that period. They made, and won, finals. That is fact. I don't need to write an article to regurgitate established fact and truth. You are the one making the nonsensical claim that Essendon have outperformed North. You write the article. I look forward to the goals/km analysis as part of your argument. Literally the dumbest stat I've seen anyone post.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Charlie I don't think we can taint the entire Hawks staff of that era with the allegations currently sitting with 3 staff
Angela
Roar Rookie
Download Mozilla Firefox and use their free adblocker. Not. One. Ad. Maybe, I'd better keep my mouth shut in case The Roar finds a way around this...
JamesH
Roar Guru
I think it's more valuable that he now has a lot of knowledge around the inner workings of all clubs. He's seen first hand the difference between strong and poor cultures, so he'll have as good an idea as anyone of what is required to succeed, at least at a high level.
JamesH
Roar Guru
I think that's exactly the concern. Yze is regarded as a good tactician but I'm not sure he had the hard edge to allow him to succeed in a turbulent environment. I suspect the criteria given by Barham to the panel would have been weighted towards that side of things. The challenge with Scott will be getting the right assistants to compliment his strengths and weaknesses.
JamesH
Roar Guru
I think the point he's making is that North's list was arguably worse than Essendon's at that point, but he still got results. I tend to agree, but it's a matter of opinion
Aransan
Roar Rookie
They do work, it is worth doing.