The Essendon football club board elected to sack head coach Brad Scott on Monday night, making the official announcement on Tuesday morning after a difficult 1-10 start to the 2026 AFL season. The Bombers have managed just one victory in their last 24 matches, a run of form that saw them equal a 17-game club-record losing streak stretching back into last year. Following the dismissal, club president Andrew Welsh announced that former player Dean Solomon will take over as interim coach while the organization begins its search for a permanent replacement, according to a report by The Guardian detailing the coaching change.
Hours after the sacking, former Essendon champion and coach James Hird publicly threw his hat into the ring during an appearance on Nine’s Footy Classified on Tuesday night. Hird stated he would definitely participate if approached for the coaching search, declaring that he would love to do the job if he is determined to be the best person for it. He conceded some responsibility for the infamous 2011-2012 supplements saga but argued that the club is currently at ground zero because the true spirit of Essendon is missing.
The sudden termination catches the playing group during a challenging period, with captain Andrew McGrath speaking to reporters from a hospital bed where he is recovering from a broken jaw suffered on Friday. McGrath said the players were shocked by the development. Scott himself stated he felt blindsided by the board’s choice, revealing that club management had previously blocked his plans to trade veteran player Zach Merrett during the off-season to fast-track a necessary list rebuild.
Terminating Scott midway through his contract, which was extended until 2027 just last year, means Essendon must pay out the remainder of his deal. Club CEO Tim Roberts stated during an official media briefing that the financial hit, estimated to be between $1.5 million and $2 million, can be fully absorbed by the club’s finances, as confirmed in the Essendon press conference coverage by Fox Sports. The vacancy marks the third head coaching opening in the league alongside Carlton and the new Tasmania franchise, while Essendon continues its hunt for its first finals win since 2004.