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".Rightly or wrongly, someone has to take control of the joint" - The latest on Essendon's next coach (2.06.26)
01 Jun 2026
Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.
Chapter 1: What recent developments are there regarding Essendon's coaching situation?
Breakfast with Gary and Tim. We know that Andrew Welsh has not spoken to James Hurd and at time of going to wear tonight, they still haven't spoken. We don't believe James Hurd is going to be the next coach at Essendon. But what Andrew Welsh needs to do now, and I think it'll be a targeted search for a new coach. I don't think there will necessarily be a big process with a lot of candidates.
I think he needs to manage now, James Hurd and Paul.
Whether that's they want to go with James Heard or whether they want to run a proper process, I think they have to work that out first before you can sort of declare yourself an interest in it. An opportunity is an opportunity, but if it doesn't feel real or it doesn't feel authentic, it does make it hard to consider.
Chapter 2: Why is there skepticism about James Hird becoming the next coach?
If we keep hearing time and time again, well, James Heard hasn't been a coach for 10 years. He hasn't been, I guess, in the hunt week to week. What are you fearful for? Shouldn't you have the confidence to be able to beat someone out?
I've been very deliberate in getting back into coaching to prepare myself for a senior coaching opportunity.
Chapter 3: What factors will influence the search for Essendon's new coach?
And as you said, I've made no secret of the fact of what I'm preparing for or what role I wish to be in. But I don't have that role. So, I mean, I'll look at different options. But I know what I'm doing, why I'm doing it, and I'm being very deliberate and targeted in going about that.
So, some voices from last night. Caroline Wilson, Troy Chaplin and Brett Montgomery as assistants. A bit wary of the process. Jimmy Bartell saying, you know, if you back yourself, what should you be scared of? Nathan Buckley's response, if he'd like to coach the Dons as well. Continues on this whole saga. It's like nothing I've seen in footy for a long, long time.
James Heard, Willie Iwone, and where are the Bombers at with it all?
Yep, and Dermot Burton, I think we're going to play a little bit of that too. He's gone into bat very strongly for James Heard too, believing that he is and capable of being an AFL coach again and had some very strong things to say about it. So too did you. I don't know that you've ever had a back and forth with Gerard, but you did survive the G-force last night.
This is Gary and Gerard talking about the potential of James Heard returning to Essendon as coach.
You're making the assumption that they can't run a fair process. They can run a fair process, but people won't put themselves into it. Well, so be it. You're not going to blink at that, are you?
If you're running that, I want the best possible coach for my club.
So you're letting out?
The only way to get that is going to be to answer the Hurd question first.
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Chapter 4: How do recent comments from football personalities influence the coaching debate?
He was pushing for James to be the coach strongly and trying to gather forces behind him. That's fine. He can do that. But he was defeated last time. That thing didn't get over the line last time. So I don't know why there are people out there believing that it would be different this time around.
Yeah.
Well, again, as I said... And if James is the best candidate, he is the best candidate. And he is more than willing. He is more than willing to put himself up there in an interviewing process against any candidate that's out there currently without a coaching position in the AFL.
Yes, well, Gerard's point about this, as I'm trying to remember, is that you can disenfranchise a whole supporter base if you go one way or the other, and that needs to be taken. So if a coach that potentially puts himself in and beats James Heard for the process then inherits a supporter base that is 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 80% disenfranchised, well, in the end, I don't think you can let...
The tail wag the dog is not quite right. But you've got to be strong enough to stand up and say, hey, I'm voted into this position as the leader of this football club. This is what we're going to do. Rightly or wrongly, someone has to take control of the joint. And I'm taking control of the joint. We're running a process. If James is one of 10, then James is one of 10.
I can only tell you that it's not a boat race. This is what I'd be saying. I don't care whether you, Caro, or you, Gary, or you, Tim, or you, whoever else, believe me or not. It doesn't matter. We're running a genuine process here and that's what we're going to do.
Okay, so how would you feel, and this is a possibility too, because I think they're going to run a process, but I'm not 100% sure that that's what they're going to do. That's what I support them doing. But what if they were to say at some point, no, we're not going to run the process. We've already decided who it is that we want to coach, and this person has experience.
For argument's sake, let's say that it's John Longmire. We've decided that we're going to go with John Longmire. Do you think that there will be people out there, Essendon people out there, that won't accept John Longmire as the coach of the Essendon Football Club?
Yeah, there will be.
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Chapter 5: What is the significance of James Hird's coaching aspirations?
G'day. Morning, Lincolns. How are you? Thank you. Yeah, good. Love listening to the program. Listen, Gaz, you're not going to agree with me. First thing I want to say is like last night, the discussion between you and Gary was great to watch. But the thing that really P155 me off is that Jared is like Caro, right? They've had a disdain for Eston and James Hurd for quite a while.
And now that Gerard's working with Hinkley and he's got Simpson saying, oh, you know, no, we're not going to go through the process because of hurt. Gerard's just gone on with that for the last week. And it's terrible to watch. I thought he was much more professional than that. But last night, me personally, he embarrassed himself.
I think your opinion is fair, Zouk. As we always say on this program, everyone's entitled to it. I have worked with Gerard now long enough to know that he's not holding any grudge against the Eastern Footy Club. But I get accused of this at times with Melbourne or whatever. It's how we interpret it.
Chapter 6: How might the process of selecting a new coach impact Essendon's future?
on the basis of your own emotional attachment to something. I've never thought that there's been some sort of an anti-James Heard take from Gerard. But as I say, always on this program, you are entitled to your opinion. It just means that we don't always agree with it.
And I think I've heard Gerard also say strongly that he believes that Essendon should make the decision that they believe is the right decision for Essendon, even though he's got these other views. And Hughes out there in Hawthorne, I don't know which radio station you're listening to at the moment, Hughes. You're a muppet for Paul. Tim, this is why Essendon's in the position.
You're pushing an agenda. You should move on. Let the younger generation lead the club, not the boys' club. But hang on. Let me jump in here. I've said anything that would support.
But this was my point earlier. I don't know what you're hearing. People have an emotional attachment to a subject and then don't tend to listen to what's been said along the way. And we cop this. I say this all the time. And that's okay. I understand how emotional this whole game is. And, you know, you now think that Tim's part of a Paul Little conspiracy. Well, that's just nonsense, Hugh.
But that is what you're hearing. So you can't change people's opinions. That's just the way it is.
Well, have a listen to this opinion because I heard this last night. This is as strong as anyone that I've heard that came out in support of James Heard. This is from Dermot Brereton, of all people, the Hawthorne legend.
A lot of people will say that 10 years out of the AFL coaching box is way too long to pick it up and start again. That's absolute rot. It's not as if they play behind drawn curtains and no one sees a game style. If you understand the game, you can see the game. You can coach the game.
By coming out the other day, saying he wanted the job, has kept away a few really notable names in the coaching ranks. That might just about be... Check, mate.
And for those that are interested, he does travel with that violinist now. He's been playing his own music while he's there. He does. He's been tucked away there learning, I think it's the violin that was playing in the background. But that's, you know, Dermot's a well-credentialed, thoughtful football person.
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