By Andrew Wu
Essendon legend Kevin Sheedy, who famously voted for James Hird to coach the Bombers, now says he is happy with direction the club has taken under Brad Scott, declaring they are in the best shape they have been for years.
The four-time Bombers premiership coach said there was “not a doubt in the world” Scott was a good appointment regardless of whether the success-starved giant gets a crack this September of ending a 19-year finals drought.
Kevin Sheedy has given Brad Scott a ringing endorsement for his first year as Essendon coach.Credit: Getty Images
Though AFL greats Garry Lyon and Nathan Buckley have questioned the Bombers’ progress in key areas on the field, there is undeniable proof Scott has taken the Dons forward in his first season at The Hangar.
With three rounds to go, the Dons remain in the finals hunt, having already bettered last year’s seven wins, while their percentage has improved markedly.
“We made the finals three times in the last decade and got beaten by nine goals average and went straight out - I think Essendon fans are over that ... I’ve got no doubt we’ll be a very good side in two years.”
Kevin Sheedy
Sheedy would love to see the club still alive in the final round to set up a “Hot August Night” clash against fierce foe Collingwood.
Sheedy’s public seal of approval is testament to the progress the Dons have made under the experienced Scott. A club director, Sheedy controversially voted for Hird to succeed Ben Rutten, telling the Herald Sun he was disappointed the Bombers had said publicly there was unanimous support for Scott on the board.
Kevin Sheedy wanted James Hird to return as Essendon coach.Credit: Sebastian Costanzo
But the master coach, who led the club to their last premiership (2000) and finals win (2004), likes what he sees.
“It’s the best year we’ve had for quite some time in playing consistent good footy,” Sheedy told this masthead.
That the Bombers have done so with the fourth least experienced and seventh-youngest selected side on average is another tick for Scott, who has said repeatedly this year he would put the club’s long-term interests over the short.
First-round pick Elijah Tsatas and Alwyn Davey jnr have debuted, and the club has also pumped significant games into a long list of young guns, including first-round picks Archie Perkins and Ben Hobbs, Nic Martin, Jye Caldwell and Sam Durham.
Their side last week was the second youngest of the round, which partially explains the Dons’ failure to thrash West Coast as many others have.
“I think the coach should be congratulated on playing the younger players and giving them every opportunity when they’ve been available for selection to build a future,” Sheedy said.
“He’s actually doing what he’s saying, and I think that’s fantastic.”
Asked whether Scott’s appointment was the right one, Sheedy was forthright. “No doubt about that, not a doubt in the world.”
Sheedy deferred questions relating to on-field strategy to the club’s football director Andrew Welsh but said the Dons were on the right track irrespective of their finals fate.
“We made the finals three times in the last decade and got beaten by nine goals average and went straight out - I think Essendon fans are over that,” Sheedy said.
“To me, I believe it’s about the next two years, three. I’ve got no doubt we’ll be a very good side in two years.
“We’re heading in the right direction and I think everyone at the club feels that.”
Despite Essendon’s improvement under Scott, there are still queries whether they have made meaningful ground in addressing weaknesses that have held the Dons back.
Former coach Rutten lost his job largely because he was unable to engineer a defensive plan for the Bombers, who also struggled at stoppages.
Though they have improved their clearance numbers from 11th to eighth, their scoring from this source has dropped from 11th to 15th, and their contested possession numbers remain in the negative, according to Champion Data.
Last for defending ball movement from 2015-22, the Bombers have crept up to only 16th this year. They have not improved their pressure rating, which remains 17th as it was in 2020-22, and their time in forward half is 16th, as it was from 2015-22.
“Only West Coast and North have been worse this year in defending ball movement,” Lyon said on Fox Footy’s On The Couch program this week. “We’re trying to work out where the steps have been. My gut says they’ve improved when I watch them play, and they’re more identifiable and look to be more organised.”
Scott said this week the Dons were measuring improvement on an individual level. Kyle Langford, Andrew McGrath, Mason Redman, Jayden Laverde and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher are among a host of Bombers enjoying career-best seasons.
“How many of our players have improved individually? I think on that measure we’re very comfortable with where we sit,” Scott told AFL 360.
Meanwhile, Bombers football department boss Josh Mahoney will leave his role at the end of the season.
Mahoney joined the Bombers in 2020 and has helped lead the club’s rebuild, including the appointment this season of Scott as coach.
The former Port Adelaide premiership player and long-time Demons football department chief said the time was right for change.
“The past month, I’ve been reflecting, and have come to the realisation that I need a new challenge and now is the right time to make that move,” Mahoney said.
“In total, I’ve been involved at AFL club level for more than 25 years as a player, coach, and GM of football for a decade at both Essendon and Melbourne. It has been a privilege and I look forward to what is next.“
New Essendon chief executive Craig Vozzo implemented an organisational restructure this season, where list manager Adrian Dodoro now reported to Vozzo, rather than Mahoney. Scott also reports directly to Vozzo.
Mahoney has also been linked to a senior football department role at AFL headquarters.
With Jon Pierik
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