Overview
- Essendon sacked senior coach Brad Scott last week and put Dean Solomon in as interim coach, leaving the club bottom of the ladder with a 1-11 record as of Tuesday.
- James Hird has publicly said he would "love to be part of the process" and that he has avoided contacting club figures to avoid spoiling the recruitment.
- Club figures including Terry Daniher have urged Essendon to run a formal, transparent selection process that would require all hopefuls, including Hird, to apply.
- Broad public support for Hird and heavy media attention have prompted some former coaches and potential applicants to question whether the contest is fair and to reconsider entering.
- A clear, well‑advertised process is now seen as urgent because it will affect who applies, the club’s short‑term stability under an interim coach, and how quickly Essendon can begin rebuilding.