Legend’s main gripe as Bombers ramp up coaching hunt
Updated . First published at
Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd has shut down any chance of joining the club’s coaching staff, while revealing his one gripe with the selection panel.
After the early departure of Brad Scott mid-way through the season, the Bombers have now turned their attention to appointing his long-term replacement.
Bombers interim coach Dean Solomon. Getty Images
The two names at the top of the list are interim coach Dean Solomon and former coach James Hird, who has publicly expressed interest in the role.
Essendon have now put together a formal selection panel which includes Andrew Welsh (president), Anthony De Pietro (vice president), Tim Roberts (director and CEO), Ted Richards (director) and Caroline Monzon (people and culture).
Speaking on Nine’s Sunday Footy Show, premiership winner Lloyd admitted he was glad to see things get moving, but admitted one concern with the panel.
“I look forward to it now getting started,” he said.
“The only thing I said was that I would have probably liked to have seen someone who has coached on that panel. Aside from that, yeah, it all gets going.”
Lloyd was then asked whether he had interest in being part of the process, but has remained adamant about not wanting to enter into coaching.
Nine journalist Damian Barrett was pumping his tyres up, but Lloyd doesn’t want to disrupt the balance in his life that involves plenty of media work.
“No - I don’t have an interest in coaching at AFL level,” he said.
“I appreciate that Damo thinks I’d be worthy of that. I just love the balance I have in my life and going full 24/7 I just don’t really want that at this stage in life.”
Essendon are stranded on the bottom of the ladder heading into Sunday’s clash with North Melbourne.
