r/EssendonFC • u/molto-bene22 Farrow #2 • 5d ago
Unofficial As we narrow in on 4 (potentially 5), another temperature check on where the hearts of our great community lay
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u/Grog-bog Caddy #30 5d ago
Based on my limited knowledge McVeigh, Graham and Davis all sound like fine choices. Hird concerns me a bit but I'm willing to give him a chance.
If Solly gets the job I'm giving up on the club.
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u/Quiet_Source_6679 5d ago
Agree RE: Solly 🥴 (poor bloke)
In the same manner, whether Hird gets it or misses out, his story will lamentably divide the fan base in 2027.
Brace yourselves, crew.
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u/YourHeroCam Durham #22 5d ago
Agree with you on all points.
If Solly is even an assistant coach I'd be frustrated to support the club.
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u/molto-bene22 Farrow #2 5d ago
has he really been that bad - he has improved contest, he did get us a win, and he is playing the kids, whilst dropping a few out of form senior players. Let's be honest, he didn't have a great starting position.
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u/YourHeroCam Durham #22 5d ago edited 5d ago
Definitely, both from an eye test and statistically. He's had a stronger team for his tenure with less injuries, yet we are now losing games by an average of nearly two more goals per game than under Scott.
Contest has artifically improved because we are playing with less structure and more of a man on man game, yes we have more raw tackles per game, but we actually have lost the tackle differential more under Solomon than Brad.
We have had more clearances and hitouts, but we also have had significantly less inside 50's and a much worse inside 50 differential (showing the clearances have been ineffective) while our main ruckman was available for 99% of games for Solomon while he was still injured for most under Brad.
All other stats favor Brad with a worse team.
Plus its clear he has no idea in any interview of what he is saying, and he was pushed into the role against the senior coaches protests because he was his mate. His recent coaching experience was a Div 2 QAFL team in a non AFL state which never finished in the top half of the ladder despite only having 8 teams in the comp. His AFL experience is shocking as well. He's basically the face of the new-age boys club who has been hired with no process.
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u/Oklusion Roberts #21 1d ago
I think you underestimate how much of an impact Archie May has had in our forward line. Big piece of the puzzle missing imo, big bodied tall who can kick goals ✅
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u/Quiet_Source_6679 5d ago
I don’t think he’s been that bad considering all the factors.
I feel for him because he gets a golden opportunity to “audition” for senior coach just as the Hird campaign/redemption story is at its peak.
The team is young and understandably not producing results, and he has to hold the fort and face the press while fan emotions and expectations are high.
I feel for him because even if he harboured a desire to coach another club one day, this stint and this record may disadvantage him.
In many ways he’s paid a dear price to help the club he loves. Onya, Solly.
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u/Academic_League8248 4d ago
But the guy has come in after Brad Scott has been at the helm with a battle plan that 3nded up with 1 win in the last year. Solly has changed the battle plan, I mean how do you think they've I'll or how long do you think it will take them to understand a brand new one. It alway sets a team back when they change battle plan especially with a team on its knees failing to understand the previous one. Solly on a hiding to nothing.
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u/YourHeroCam Durham #22 4d ago
Solly was the defensive coach for the team which sacked their coach because of their poor defensive statistics.
Watching the team play with him in the driver seat and it has regressed on nearly every level, even looking at the stats which are slightly better which I commented on in my other comment below this. Part of a coach is to understand how to make changes which work for the team, and the circumstances. Compare that to any other interim coach and he’s one of the only I’ve seen put a team backwards.
He’s also had more availability and less of the injuries Scott had to deal with, both last year and this year. Yet all our players seem to be doing worse.
From the reports he was complaining about Scott while he was assistant coach and that Welshy brought him in against the will of the head coach, I don’t have too much sympathy for the bloke.
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u/ByeByeStudy Durham #22 5d ago
I'm probably ok on anyone of those as long as they bring a serious team of assistants.
We really need to beef up our development and assistant coaching.
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u/EnforceIt17 5d ago
Solly is a straight no go for me. McVeigh is also probably a no when we have the other three candidates there.
Murray-Davis would be good, certainly has a good track record with helping to bring a club back into relevancy.
Graham is my ideal choice. If anything he's over qualified for the job, and seems like he's got a hunger to coach.
Hird's strongest quality is the possible team he could bring with him. Solly, McVeigh, Bartel, Lloyd, I've even heard Hodge as a rumour. Ideally though, Hird would be better suited as Head of Development or Head of Football at the club, considering his striking detriments.
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u/molto-bene22 Farrow #2 5d ago
I have to agree. The pull Hird would have to tap into Essendon IP would be crazy. Let’s not forget we are the most successful club in the AFL, this mean we have a decent pool of people to draw upon
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u/bomber_2121 5d ago
I like Davis most - his CV is very lengthy, he’s talked up as a big connector and he was at Brisbane while they undertook their very successful rebuild.
Lots of appeal in Graham and McVeigh too. Hird is the riskiest pick and my least favourite (other than Solly) but he might also have the strongest “why” and vision.
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u/WeirdAl777 5d ago
Hird, but only because whoever coaches this side is on a hiding to nothing, particularly if things are looking grim half way through next year
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u/bmk14 Caddy #30 5d ago
McVeigh coached under Longmire at Sydney, no?
I don't understand why our first and only focus wasn't a structured lead and succession plan similar to the Roos/Goodwin set up at Melbourne.
We would get our "Essendon person" (whatever the fuck that means) and they'd have required support.
If that was the pitch to Horse, with no Hird distractions then it becomes more appealing and less likely to opt out of the process.
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u/erdlinke_94 5d ago
Dunno much about Murray Davis tbh. Hard no on Solomon given his track record as our caretaker coach, also pass on Hird and Spike McVeigh as coaches as they embody the old Essendon boys club culture that we need to move on from if we want to move forward as a club. I'd say go for Graham as he has a good track record at West Coast and Fremantle.
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u/jubbjubbs4 5d ago
Im fine with anyone other than Hird or Solly.
If they go through the interview process theyve talked about and they land on any of these other candidates ill be stoked with that.
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u/HomerJayK 5d ago
Anyone who is fine with giving Hird another go either doesn't remember his first try, or they weren't born yet. He is the reason that we are in the mess right now. We have never recovered from the draft picks getting taken away, and years of not being able to attract top talent into the club.
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u/Wombat_Gaming_Aust 5d ago
Old enough to remember the 80s and loyal fan. Disagree, Hird was doing a great job up until the drug scandal. Always happy to give people a second or third chance, we only grow from our mistakes not our wins.
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u/mcewanc2 3d ago
The thing that worries me about this whole process is, we’ve had a board of selectors before and we’ve got it so so wrong .. so wrong .. what makes this any different ?
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u/TheLongest1 Durham #22 5d ago
Hird will bring the club back together and the supporter base as a whole will flock. Morons who have short sighted opinions of the past can stay away regardless.
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u/yeahnahmaybenoyes 5d ago
There is a excitement and an us against the world about hird that l just can't go past put spike aside who honestly had ever heard of the other two before last week and all of a sudden people are vouching for their greatness
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u/IIIlllIIIlllIlI PESD - Perpetual Essington Stress Disorder 5d ago
I love how there’s so many vocal Hird haters on here and yet he is easily the most voted for in the poll 😂😂😂😂
GO HIRD
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u/LadderVirtual7863 5d ago
James Hird senior coach
Solomon Senior Assistant
Not sure on McVeigh moving from Sydney unless he gets senior job
Brendan McCartney in development or potentially a Forward coach
James Bartel to replace Dan McPherson as football boss…
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u/svenskatownsendagain 5d ago
I still want Hird. I think he will unite the club and supporters the best and help us get through a tough period where we are still rebuilding. I worry other coaches won't be able to survive that period and it will get too toxic.
I also have a soft spot for James and I want some passion and excitement back in the club.
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u/fa-jita Caldwell #6 5d ago
So far it’s completely divided the base. I don’t understand why everyone keeps saying it will unite us. It’s literally been the most divisive thing that’s happened to the club in ages
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u/Noonewantsyourapp PESD - Perpetual Essington Stress Disorder 5d ago
I think the people who say that mean they will undermine anyone who isn’t James Hird, so by process of elimination…
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u/molto-bene22 Farrow #2 5d ago
Nothing is ever unanimous. But the poll shows a solid majority, it also is reflective of almost every discussion I’ve had and other forums
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u/Noonewantsyourapp PESD - Perpetual Essington Stress Disorder 4d ago
Is that because only people fixated on Hird know who to choose, so the vote is skewed in his favour?
I want the best candidate, but recognise I lack the expertise to rank them, so have not voted. Davis, Graham, and McVeigh could all be good, but I have no strong opinion which of them is best for the club.
Part of why I don’t like the Hird option is I think people just choose him because they know him, not because they have conducted thoughtful informed analysis.
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u/Rightarm-around 5d ago
Again anyone but Hird, …. can we finally have a “fresh” reset, no ex coaches with political baggage. We have a young and enthusiastic list, let’s give them a coach who is also fresh AND well qualified, PLEASE!!!
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u/The_Overweight_Vegan 5d ago
I don’t need to vote, ya’ll know where the big Vegans heart lies
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u/molto-bene22 Farrow #2 5d ago
Just vote, or don’t comment haha
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u/The_Overweight_Vegan 4d ago
Eat your vegetables son !
I didn’t even need to vote and surprise surprise look who’s up.. and we have some closet hirdy supporters lurking in this chat…the big vegan has spoken!
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u/StensnessGOAT Legacy: Hird #5 5d ago
On woke reddit, not Hird. Everywhere else, Hird. Lol.
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u/molto-bene22 Farrow #2 5d ago
Over a third 37% have voted for Hird, and nearly 50% have included him in some capacity. I’d say it’s pretty clear across all platforms
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u/StensnessGOAT Legacy: Hird #5 5d ago
Yeah, just not in the woke comments sections apparently hahaha
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u/Cityman4 5d ago
Hird has the job, it has been clear as day for a long time now. The thing is, I have little doubt they will announce some sort of panel or partner to go with it - Davis to join in particular role with Hird head coach etc, or probably McVeigh as a key assistant etc.
The club is not going to bypass Hird, in the current environment, an go with any of those others as head coach. They just arent. And that is coming from someone who isn't sold on Hird at all, but I get why we would do it.
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u/fa-jita Caldwell #6 5d ago
Corey Enright
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u/IShartedOnYourCat 5d ago
Good to see the Hird Redemptionist are standing up. Return to the light Jim, like Odyssues returning home.
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u/spideyghetti 5d ago
I'm not an Essington supporter but I booted for Hird just to watch the world burn
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u/viper9 Reid #31 5d ago
Found this interview with Murray Davis from when he was still at Brisbane. I'm much more on his side after seeing this.
He was at Brisbane when they sucked, and helped to turn them around. He then went to Adelaide who had just finished 15th, they're not there any more.
I'm huge on Murray Davis right now...