In a dramatic move that sent shockwaves through the AFL landscape, Brad Scott has been sacked as senior coach of the Essendon Football Club after an underwhelming run of results in the 2026 season. The club confirmed the decision on May 26, 2026, with president Andrew Welsh announcing the change following a dispiriting performance that saw the Bombers secure just one win from their opening 11 matches.
Scott arrived at Essendon ahead of the 2023 season, bringing plenty of coaching experience after his previous stint at North Melbourne. But despite early promise, results deteriorated sharply — particularly in 2026, leaving the club at the bottom of the AFL ladder and prompting decisive action by the board.
Why Scott’s Tenure Ended: Performance & Pressure
Essendon’s 2026 campaign was a disappointment by any measure. The team’s poor form — including just one win across the start of the season and a long stretch of losses stretching back into 2025 — ultimately cost Scott his job. The Bombers’ slide culminated in a loss that left them languishing deep in AFL rankings, and pressure from fans and media intensified around the coaching role.
Club president Andrew Welsh acknowledged the difficulty of the decision but emphasised the need for fresh leadership to reignite Essendon’s competitiveness. Despite previously backing Scott as a premiership‑capable coach, Welsh said the board felt the team had stagnated and that change was necessary for a turnaround.
Reports indicate the decision to part ways will cost the Bombers a significant payout, potentially in the $1.5–$2 million range, given Scott still had more than a year left on his contract. Essendon’s CEO has stated the club can manage this while still fully resourcing its football operations moving forward.
Interim Coach Named — Next Leadership Search Begins
With Scott’s departure, assistant coach Dean Solomon has been appointed interim senior coach for the remainder of the 2026 season. Solomon — a former player and experienced assistant at multiple AFL clubs — will steer the Bombers through the rest of their campaign while the club evaluates long‑term coaching options.
Solomon’s elevation is intended to provide continuity and stability while Essendon assesses the next chapter in its coaching journey. The club emphasises that the focus now is on maximising the remainder of the season and beginning the search for a permanent replacement with thorough consideration.
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James Hird Return Rumours Intensify
Perhaps the most explosive element of the fallout from Scott’s sacking is speculation over a potential **return of James Hird to the Bombers’ coaching ranks. Welsh has refused to completely rule Hird out as a future coach — a remarkable development given Hird’s high‑profile and controversial history at the club.
Hird, a club legend as a player and a former senior coach who won the Brownlow Medal and represented Essendon with distinction, remains a polarising figure due to his involvement in the club’s supplements saga during his previous coaching tenure. But internal and supporter sentiment appears to be growing for his name to be considered among coaching contenders.
While Welsh has stressed that the priority is finding the “right person for the job” rather than falling back on nostalgia, he acknowledged that Essendon’s history and passion for the game means figures like Hird naturally emerge in conversations about future leadership.
AFL Coaching Landscape & Essendon’s Legacy of Turnover
Essendon’s decision thrusts the club into a broader AFL coaching shake‑up, with several clubs currently without permanent coaches. The Bombers will be looking outside and within for candidates capable of steering the team out of its rut, with lists of potential successors already circulating through media and fan forums.
Essendon’s coaching history has been marked by both success and turbulence, with past senior coaches including Kevin Sheedy, John Coleman, James Hird, and more recently Ben Rutten before Scott’s tenure. Coaching stability is a rare commodity at the club in recent decades, and the board will be keen to find a long‑term figure who can spark consistent improvement.
