Brad Scott has been sacked as Essendon coach as the team sits last on the ladder with just one win from 11 matches this season – and footy greats believe his exit has paved the way for James Hird to return to lead the club.
The 50-year-old took the reins at Windy Hill at the start of the 2023 season and the club has endured a horror run of form since then.
His record with the Bombers stands at 29 wins, 50 defeats and one draw since he joined the club after coaching North Melbourne from 2010 to 2019.
Scott has been axed after his team’s demoralising loss to Richmond on Friday, with the Tigers running out easy winners despite struggling with a horror injury toll.
The Bombers this year also equalled their club-record losing streak of 17 games, which included losing the final 13 matches of their 2025 campaign.
Scott signed a one-year extension through to the end of the 2027 season in March 2025.
Essendon have axed Brad Scott (pictured) after he took the reins at Windy Hill at the start of the 2023 season
Last Friday’s demoralising loss to an injury-ravaged Richmond team was the last straw for the 50-year-old (pictured during the game)
Scott’s axing has prompted a push for former Essendon coach and club legend James Hird (pictured) to take over
That was supposed to deliver stability to the battling Bombers.
But Essendon are now on the hunt for their third senior coach in five seasons.
Estimates of Scott’s payout vary from $800,000 to $2million.
The club’s current defensive coach, Dean Solomon, has confirmed as Scott’s interim replacement.
Moves are also underway to bring back former Bombers coach James Hird as Scott’s replacement, according to club legend Tim Watson.
‘There is a very, very strong push from a lot of people out there to get James back at Essendon, coaching,’ Watson said on Tuesday morning.
‘I do not know whether or not he wants to put him through that process.
‘He put himself through the process last time. I believe, the next in line, had it not been a choice between Brad Scott or James Hird, then James was second on that interview process.
‘Kevin Sheedy was the only one on the board at that time that voted against Brad Scott actually being the coach of Essendon. He wanted James Hird to be the coach before they appointed Brad Scott.’
Scott’s payout could be worth as much as $2million after he signed a one-year extension through to the end of the 2027 season in March 2025
This year the Bombers have equalled their club-record losing streak of 17 games, which included losing the final 13 matches of their 2025 campaign
Footy great turned commentator Garry Lyon also spoke about the support for Hird in the wake of Essendon’s announcement.
‘There is no clean air at that footy club until such time as he [Hird] is given his go, and I think this paves the way for the return of Hird,’ Lyon said on SEN.
‘There would be a pro-Hird camp and an anti-Hird camp and until you either get success or give Hirdy a go, that will remain a fractured footy club.’
Hird coached the Bombers from 2011 to 2013, with a short stint in 2015 after he led the team through the infamous drug supplements saga.
Essendon were at the centre of one of the biggest scandals in the history of Australian sport, with 34 players found guilty on appeal of taking performance-enhancing drugs across the 2012 AFL season.
Four years later, the AFL suspended the players involved in the scandal for 12 months, while 2012 Brownlow medallist Jobe Watson had to return his coveted medal.
Hird later admitted to being ‘naïve’ as a head coach and trusting ‘bad’ people
On Tuesday, Bombers president Andrew Welsh outlined the club’s reasons for axing Scott.
‘Ultimately, whilst we know we are a young team, we are not comfortable with our current position which led us to meet as a Board to assess and make a decision on the future of the Senior Coach position,’ Bombers president Andrew Welsh said.
‘When looking at the overall progress of our football team this season, it was agreed that we needed a fresh voice to take the club forward for the 2027 AFL Season.
‘Once that decision was made, it would have been unfair to have Brad continue as coach any longer and that is why we have brought this decision forward to today.
‘There is a lot to be gained from the second half of the season and we won’t waste the opportunity to develop and improve our performances.’
The identical twin brother of Geelong coach Chris Scott began his coaching career as an assistant with Collingwood before moving to the Kangaroos, where he won 106 matches and lost 105.
Prior to that he was a two-time premiership winner as a player with the Brisbane Lions during their stellar run in the early 2000s.
Scott played 146 matches for the reigning premiers from 1998 to 2006 after being drafted by Hawthorn in 1997.
He created controversy in May 2024 when he called Tarryn Thomas a ‘good person’ who deserved a ‘second chance’ despite the former North Melbourne star being sacked by the Kangaroos after copping an 18-match ban over allegations of inappropriate behaviour with a woman.
