Essendon’s search for its next senior coach is reaching the pointy end, with Mark McVeigh, Murray Davis, Jaymie Graham and James Hird emerging as the leading candidates.
We examine the coaching journeys, strengths and potential concerns attached to each contender and why development experience, leadership and alignment with the club’s long-term strategy must matter more than familiarity or profile.
We also review Essendon’s 93-point loss to Hawthorn, exploring how a competitive opening unravelled as the enormous gap in experience, continuity and class took its toll. Plus, the latest on Sullivan Robey and Jordan Ridley, Dan McPherson’s resignation and what it means for the football department.
Finally, we turn our attention to Sunday’s clash with Adelaide: the Crows’ strengths, the challenge facing Essendon’s undersized defence and what we want to see from the Bombers across the final four games of 2026.
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