Should Essendon finally look beyond its own past to rebuild its future? West Coast premiership defender Will Schofield believes Fremantle assistant Jaymie Graham is the right person to become the Bombers’ next senior coach.
Graham is one of four reported finalists alongside James Hird, Mark McVeigh and Murray Davis after caretaker coach Dean Solomon withdrew from the selection process.
Schofield Declares Graham ‘The Man For The Job’
Schofield worked with Graham during their time at West Coast and believes his former assistant coach has completed the apprenticeship required to lead an AFL club.
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“Jaymie Graham should be the man getting this job,” Schofield said on Fox Sports News’ AFL Tonight.
“He’s an assistant coach at the best side in the competition. He’s run pretty close to a couple of senior coaching roles in his time, including the Collingwood job when Craig McRae was appointed.
“What he’s been able to do with Fremantle over a number of years and their forward line—you’d have to look at their development and the way they play as a pretty good forward line in the competition.
“And he’s taken charge of West Coast and Fremantle as caretaker coach.”
Schofield played 194 AFL games for West Coast and was a member of the Eagles’ 2018 premiership team.
His support does not mean Graham is Essendon’s preferred candidate. The club has not publicly ranked the four finalists and has committed to announcing its decision only after the formal process is complete.
Schofield Challenges Essendon To Look Outside
Three prominent figures in Essendon’s current coaching discussion—Hird, McVeigh and Solomon—have strong playing connections to the club.
Schofield believes selecting an external candidate could help the Bombers establish a new direction.
“I think Graham’s the man for the job, but it’ll probably go to someone connected with Essendon in some way, shape or form,” he said.
“We’ll have to see if they have the rigour to go outside the four walls of the Essendon Football Club.
“Because I don’t know if that’s been overly helpful over the last 25 years.”
Hird coached Essendon between 2011 and 2015 and played 253 games for the club, winning two premierships and the 1996 Brownlow Medal.
McVeigh played 232 games for the Bombers before beginning his coaching career. He is currently an assistant at Sydney and previously served as Greater Western Sydney’s caretaker coach during 2022.
Davis is the only finalist without an Essendon playing connection. He is currently Adelaide’s coaching director and has been strongly endorsed by Crows senior coach Matthew Nicks.
Graham’s Coaching Experience
Graham has spent approximately 14 years developing his coaching experience across West Coast, St Kilda and Fremantle.
The former Eagles forward coached East Perth in the WAFL during 2018 and later served as West Coast’s caretaker coach when Adam Simpson was unavailable in 2022.
He also assumed temporary senior coaching responsibilities at Fremantle when Justin Longmuir was unable to coach.
Graham is currently responsible for Fremantle’s forward line and is the only reported candidate to reach the final stages of both the Essendon and Carlton coaching searches.
Fremantle executive general manager of football Joe Brierty has publicly supported Graham’s senior-coaching ambitions.
“We’re right behind him,” Brierty told AFL Nation.
“To be honest, he deserves the opportunity to be a senior coach.
“He’s had an amazing apprenticeship over three clubs. The impact he’s had in working really closely with our forwards, but obviously our assistant coaching group and JL and him have a really strong relationship.”
Dean Solomon Withdraws From Coaching Race
Solomon confirmed he would not seek the permanent position after replacing Brad Scott as caretaker coach in late May.
Essendon has won one of nine games under Solomon, with several heavy defeats making it increasingly difficult for him to secure the position permanently.
Despite withdrawing, Solomon remains contracted to the Bombers for 2027 and has indicated he is willing to continue supporting the club in another capacity.
Essendon chief executive Tim Roberts praised Solomon for putting the club’s interests first during a difficult period.
His withdrawal leaves Graham, Hird, McVeigh and Davis as the remaining reported contenders.
What Essendon Wants From Its Next Coach
Essendon established a five-member selection panel featuring president Andrew Welsh, vice-president Anthony Di Pietro, director Ted Richards, chief executive Tim Roberts and people and culture executive Caroline Monzon.
The club said development and connection would be major priorities in its coaching appointment, alongside culture, football structure and alignment with its long-term strategy.
“We will appoint the best coach for Essendon,” Roberts wrote to members.
“The right person to lead this club forward. Someone who demonstrates a clear and compelling vision for the future of our football club.”
An appointment is reportedly expected as early as next week, although Essendon has not publicly confirmed a deadline.
Graham may have Schofield’s endorsement and a strong body of assistant-coaching experience, but he must still overcome three contrasting candidates before landing one of the AFL’s most demanding positions.
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