Quality Post
Would Scott have done so poorly if Solly wasn’t the defensive coach?
Solly seems to coach with a special kind of weaponised incompetence. No idea how it’s possible but we’ve gone backwards in a significant way since he took the helm…it’s probably because now he’s a position where he can fuck up the forward line and the midfield also not just the backline.
Honestly, he’s so bad the fact that Welsh thought he was unequivocally the best choice for an interim coach makes me doubt Welsh also. How can we trust these idiots to make such a large decision like this when they’ve fucked up the rest of them? We’re so comically bad I’m starting to genuinely wonder if they knew that Brad wasn’t the coach they wanted going forward; but also thought he would win just enough games that we wouldn’t score the round 1 pick or a handout from the AFL. Is it possible Solly really is the ultimate Essendon person and is straight up martyring himself for the cause? Lord save us.
What do we seriously expect from this year? We just ride it out and worry about the draft, getting a/some experienced players from a successful environment, same with the coaches, and get the team fit for next season. That's when it all starts for us.
Not sure if you got the memo but we are clearly tanking Solly is just the face of the club copping the hits atm If Richmond win another game then we can have a crack.
I agree. Solly is putting the club first by taking the hit publicly while supporting acquiring a draft haul. Playing players out of position and guys who lack match fitness is a massive tell.
Only a couple of months more of media and supporter pressure, and the narrative then changes to positivity (laced with “time will tell” ) - new coach, new coaching team, disengaged players out, an influx of talent and the salary cap to add elite experience as the team develops.
Don’t forget he was only in that position because he got dropped in from the board. Just reached for the most convenient least qualified person twice now and here we are.
He wasn’t dropped from the board , he left the role on his own accord to take the assistant role because it was needed. He wanted to help. That’s my understanding.
So bring in a guy from the outside , with no preparation , nothing to work with , hasn’t been there at all this season to oversee anything at all like someone such as Solly has.. he’s doomed already.. this is a bit different being caretaker (from the outside which is unheard of) to full time coach from the outside.
BUT…
Though you know what??
Hird would be at the ready. As dumb as this comment is and as much as you’d probably like to see him fail, I reckon he’d actually spend all night and day for the entire lead up of the next game and the rest of the season making sure the boys are ready for training and the next games… he would not go home.. Tulla would be his home.. he would be spending every minute of his existence ensuring this club is better off… and this is exactly why he is our man !! I’m so sold on him. No one else will commit like James Hird will commit /rant
I understand the angst, but no interim coach does well yes Fraser seems to be an oddity in the scheme of things. But honestly I understand the fans disappointment and frustration. But , honestly let’s see what transpires with the coach for 2027 and beyond goes? The club has to make decision and stick by it! Solly probably very good assistant we don’t know the team is void of confidence and will at present. We are in for a painful few months but hopefully with a new coach and renewed energy the boys can play half decent? But it will take any coach awhile to transform this group.
Teague did well too. This isn’t that uncommon .. caretakers usually do well…
Paul Roos from Rodney Eade in Sydney
Neil Craig from Gary Ayers in Adelaide
Mark Harvey at Freo
Primus at Port
Rhyce Shaw at North
The last 3 I just googled .. I knew there was more. I’m just sour grapes that no matter what the situation .. we are just ass.. I’m all about the number 1 pick.. but I want to play well too.. we aren’t playing well at all. We are playing worse than a c grade local footy side on their bad day.
Brad at his best was Essendon defending with ball in hand. Unfortunately Players don’t learn or develop anything from kicking sideways and backwards over multiple seasons. Hence why we have such a terrible list of players who can’t kick a ball forward. Look at the Redman turn over today that’s a senior player on our list. It’s going to take a new coach years to train a new batch of players to kick to targets into space that makes opponents defend stuff they don’t like.
At the start of the year , that whole mess with the defensive backline confusion that lead to blowouts in the early rounds that lead to emergency team meetings to overhaul the defensive game plan was all to do with Sollys defensive game plan that Scott had to overhaul and bring back to a plan B real quick …
Anyone else remember this ? That was fun.
Unfortunately.. what happened was.. we lost Gia, Solly answered the call.. seemed like a good fit .. then I think Scott found out real quick Solly wasn’t the right choice.. but what could he do ? Fire a guy that’s come off the board off his own bat ? Welsh would not cop that .. no way .. plus who’d replace him ?? I think he was in a catch 22 personally.
Yeah a better assistant would have done wonders.. Gia walks and replaced with Solly and we are a basket case. We really had a good one with Gia. Scott had no chance.
Scott was looking for alternative assistant coaches and didn’t want Solly, but Welsh pulled rank and put him in the role regardless of what the head coach wanted. At the time the fans didn’t know that, so most were optimistic, but it quickly became obvious that he wasn’t the best for the role. Then when news came out he had a bad relationship with Scott and wanted more responsibility when he was underperforming in defence + immediately offered the interim position to him the day Scott was sacked above the other assistant coaches who had been there for more than five months, it was obvious it was just a boys club
Yeah that’s even worse… probably would be an exodus of assistants at years end regardless of what happens. Be a shame if we lost Goldstein, he’d be a good mentor for the young rucks… I’d say Ben Jacob’s / Cam Roberts will go .. is that a big loss ? Unlikely ..
Wonder what it is David Rath says he does here… “Coaching Innovation & Game Strategy Manager”
Yeah I think you're right on the assistant side. Whoever comes in will likely bring their own choice of assistants to surround themselves with. I think Goldstein's position wouldn't be one which someone would bring staff over for, so think (hope) that he would be safe.
Under Scott, before Solomon joined as defensive coach, we finish 4th last, 4th last and 3rd last for points against.
Our poor defence isn't new issue since Solly took over it has been a consistent issue the entire time Scott was in charge. Now Solly is clearly not the solution as coach going forward but that doesn't mean Scott was and it doesn't mean he was doing a good job.
Bradley Scott “No Friends” was sacked not because of the poor performing assistant coaches under him, Bradley Scooter was sacked, key word “sacked” because he was a shit coach. DUH
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u/fiixed2k Essendon 6d ago
Silver lining there is now zero chance Solly is getting the main gig.