Written by Rhea Alison, Sports reporter, covering international sports since 2020.
As the club management advances its formal selection process this Thursday at the team headquarters, the race to become the permanent Dean Solomon Essendon coach option heats up ahead of Sunday's match against St Kilda, directly impacting the club's long-term football direction.
Watching the players train under heavy grey skies, the tension is clear after four straight losses. Solomon remains calm on the boundary line despite his former teammate throwing his hat in the ring.
The Coaching Process
Interview Pool: The club plans to interview 10 to 15 potential candidates.
Current Standing: The team sits last on the ladder after parting ways with Brad Scott in May.
Solomon expects a "tap on the shoulder at some stage" from club leaders. Chief executive Tim Roberts told him, "mate, right here, right now, next couple of weeks, keep your head down." Roberts added, "You've got to focus on what you've got to focus on and at some stage, we'll come and give you a nudge and have a conversation."
When asked if he wants the permanent role, Solomon replied, "That's what I'm asking myself right now, I guess." Regarding his winless streak, he said, "If I was worried about my CV, I wouldn't have been an interim coach twice."
You can view the full injury list on the official AFL Website. If you want to make a smart play on this weekend's head-to-head margins, use our SmartTips football predictions to back the winning side.
