Essendon coach Dale Tapping to step away to focus on cancer battle

An Essendon assistant coach has stepped away from the Bombers to focus on his health after a devastating diagnosis left him in tears.

Dale Tapping has blood cancer.

Essendon assistant coach Dale Tapping is stepping away from his role to focus on his treatment for blood cancer.

Tapping was diagnosed with Myeloma, a type of blood cancer, earlier this year and continued working as Essendon’s forwards coach for the first half of the season while undertaking weekly treatments.

The treatment has progressed well so far but Tapping has decided to take a break from coaching to focus fully on his health.

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“While Tapping’s treatment has progressed well over the first stage, the assistant coach has decided to focus fully on his health over the coming months,” Essendon said in a statement.

Bombers general manager of football Josh Mahoney said the entire club was supportive of Tapping’s decision and would continue to support him and his family during the treatment.

“Dale was diagnosed with Myeloma earlier in the year and has been receiving weekly treatment. Up until this point, his treatment plan and his general wellbeing has allowed him to continue in his coaching role,” Mahoney said.

Essendon assistant coach Dale Tapping. Pic: Michael Klein

“Dale has started a different treatment phase, which will require all his energy, and for this reason, he will step away from his coaching role for a period of time.

“As a club, we fully support Dale, Kelly, Summer and Mason during this period and hope that the positive progressions made to date continue with this treatment.”

Earlier this year, Tapping became emotional when speaking on Essendon’s One on One podcast about the “tough conversation” he had with his kids about his diagnosis.

“That’d be the hardest conversation I’ve ever had to have with you kids,” Tapping said,

“I sort of knew what I’d been diagnosed with (but) talking to them was really, really difficult and sharing that because I didn’t have all the information. I was still trying to understand it in my own mind.

“That was really tough. My young fella didn’t say a word for about three hours. My daughter was more outwardly emotional. She was all over it. She knew what that meant to a certain point.

“It was a tough conversation. They both took it differently. I never would have forgiven myself if I never had that conversation and the come home and they’ve heard it innocently through a third party. That was pretty tough sharing that with them.”

Dale Tapping was diagnosed with blood cancer. Photo: Essendon.com.au

The 58-year-old has coached at the Brisbane Lions, Collingwood VFL, Sandringham Dragons and Old Scotch and Old Brighton.

Head of development Cameron Roberts will take over Tapping as the coach of the forward line, while continuing to lead the club’s development program.

Head of performance Daniel McPherson will work with the broader coaching group to cover Tapping’s role.

“Cam Roberts will take on the duties of coaching the forwards, with Brad’s (head coach Brad Scott) assistance. Cam will remain in the head of development role and maintain the key responsibilities in that role,” Mahoney said.

“Other components of his role will be shared among our development coaching team members and Performance Analysts.

“We are confident that with these adjustments, we will continue to deliver the coaching resources to our players that ensure that we deliver a world-class football program.”

Originally published as Essendon coach Dale Tapping to step away to focus on cancer battle