Essendon forced into shock coaching change on eve of Premier Cricket season

Essendon has been forced into a shock coaching change on the eve of the Premier Cricket season with World Cup winner Asanka Gurusinha resigning.

Essendon has been forced into a last-second coaching change on the eve of the Premier Cricket season.

Sri Lanka World Cup winner Asanka Gurusinha resigned last week with assistant and Bombers great Ben Fletcher taking the reins for the coming season.

President Simon Tobin declined to expand on the reasons for Gurusinha’s departure, saying the club was keen to move on with the season kicking off on Saturday.

Fletcher steps into the coaching role having been one of Premier Cricket’s most prolific run-scorers.

He is Essendon’s third-leading scorer all-time with 6400 runs at an average of 40.50 and ranks 18th all-time in Premier Cricket, retiring in 2016 with 8953 runs at 40.14.

Tom O'Donnell in action for Essendon. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Tobin said the change would have little impact on the group.

“Ben came on board from the end of last season,” he said.

“He’s a very energetic sort of guy, very diligent, really well organised, a high-performing sort of guy.

“He made an immediate impact on the group and been an integral part of the pre-season all the way through.”

Essendon will look to jump back into the top-eight this season after a heart-breaking finish to last season, dropping out of finals in the final round.

Former skipper Michael Hill and star spinner Liam Bowe have retired from the top flight, while Isaac Willett has crossed to Prahran.

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James O’Donnell started last season at Windy Hill before turning his focus to football, going on to make his AFL debut with Western Bulldogs this season.

The Bombers have welcomed Greenvale Kangaroos pair Nick McGuane and Connor Hayes, while Subbies Michael Gale Medallist (Best Young Player) Aiden Salvado has stepped up from Yarraville.

Essendon will again be led by James Seymour.

The Bombers have two players on Victoria’s contract list, Tom O’Donnell and Cam McClure.

The club hopes to have both available for Saturday’s season-opening clash against Northcote at Bill Lawry Oval.