Updated ,first published
In today’s AFL Briefing, your wrap of footy news:
- Dean Solomon won’t throw his hat into the ring to become the next Essendon coach.
- Collingwood’s willingness to offer Ed Allan a deal follows his significant improvement since he was shifted to the midfield.
- The legal cases in the US against Hawthorn pair Dylan Moore and Connor Macdonald have officially come to a close.
Interim Essendon coach Dean Solomon will not apply for the full-time coaching role.
The Bombers 2000 premiership player took over the side after the sacking of Brad Scott in late May – the Dons posting a 1-8 [win-loss] record during his tenure and a game behind Richmond on the bottom of the ladder.
But Solomon has repeatedly expressed his belief in the talent of the club’s young players, despite the losses adding up, with the likes of Nate Caddy, Sullivan Robey, Jacob Farrow, Archie Roberts and Dyson Sharp showing huge potential.
While Solomon held preliminary talks with Essendon’s chief executive Tim Roberts, he told media last Thursday he was yet to formally discuss the matter with the club hierarchy, explaining that Roberts was keen for him to “concentrate on coaching … and that at some point in time, he would give us a tap on the shoulder and have that discussion”.
Sydney assistant coach and former Bomber Mark McVeigh, Port Melbourne director of coaching and Essendon legend James Hird, Adelaide coaching director Murray Davis and Fremantle forwards coach Jaymie Graham are the candidates for the role.
Formal interviews are continuing this week, with the Bombers hoping to confirm an appointment by the end of next week as they restructure their football department, including the men’s and women’s programs.
“I’ve been incredibly grateful for the opportunity to give back to the football club that has given me so much,” Solomon said.
“I’m proud of this playing group. While the results haven’t reflected where we want to be, I’ve seen the growth of these players every day, and I honestly believe our members and supporters have every reason to be excited about what’s ahead. They’re made of the right stuff which gives us great hope for the future.
“Get behind them from day one in 2027 and give them the best Essendon support possible. There’s nothing better than running out in front of the red and black faithful.”
Roberts told the Essendon website on Wednesday that Solomon had a long history of doing the right thing by the club, and praised the work he and his coaching staff had put into the club’s young players.
“Anyone who has worked with ‘Solly’ understands the person he is,” Roberts said.
“His leadership, integrity and care for our players have been outstanding, and we are incredibly grateful for the way he has led our football program through an important period.
“He has served this club with distinction as our senior coach and has made a lasting impact on the players and staff around him.”
Solomon, who was on the Essendon board before joining Scott’s coaching staff as an assistant, remains contracted to the Bombers for 2027.
– Roy Ward
Collingwood finally in contract talks with improving young gun
Jake Niall
Collingwood are in contract discussions with fourth-year midfielder Ed Allan, in what is the first confirmation that the Magpies are keen to retain the out-of-contract onballer.
The Magpies had delayed contract talks with Allan’s management until very recently, with the 22-year-old midfielder having spent almost the duration of the season without a contract in front of him.
Collingwood’s willingness to offer Allan a deal follows his significant improvement since he was shifted to the midfield – he had often been deployed on a wing previously – and given the responsibility of tagging the opposition’s prime movers.
Allan was successful in curbing Adelaide gun Jordan Dawson in Collingwood’s upset of the Crows two rounds back, when the Magpies surmounted a 27-point deficit to run over the home side. Allan booted two important goals and smothered the Adelaide skipper in the second half.
The West Australian, the son of ex-Hawthorn and Fremantle star Ben Allan, restricted North gun Luke Davies-Uniacke in round 18 in a narrow victory and has been matched to Melbourne superstar Kysaiah Pickett and Richmond’s premier midfielder Tim Taranto since he assumed midfield tagging duties.
Allan, drafted by the Magpies with their first choice in the 2022 national draft (pick No.19), is 194 centimetres – close to the same size as Carlton great Patrick Cripps – and possesses a turn of speed. Until his deployment as a tagger, however, he had struggled for both midfield minutes and consistent impact.
While there has been speculation about interest from WA, Allan had not been a recruiting target for his opponents this weekend, the Eagles. He is a chance to be matched against 2023 No.1 pick Harley Reid this Sunday.
Allan has played 15 games at senior level this year, for a career tally of 30. He has just been selected in the AFL Players’ Association’s team of the best players aged 22 and under.
Collingwood are facing major list management calls after this season, with super veterans Steele Sidebottom and Scott Pendlebury still to announce their intentions, though Sidebottom is expected to retire, and defender Jeremy Howe, 36, will be offered a contract.
The Magpies are favourites to sign dual Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale as a free agent, as Neale ponders his likely exit from the Brisbane Lions. They are one of four clubs who have met with Port Adelaide champion Zak Butters, who is expected to leave Port as a free agent and move back to Victoria, but are viewed as outsiders compared with the Bulldogs, Geelong and even Richmond.
Mitchell says Hawks pair have grown since US arrest
Scott Spits
Hawthorn pair Dylan Moore and Connor Macdonald have been praised by coach Sam Mitchell for their efforts on and off the field since they were arrested and spent a night in custody in the US during the off-season.
The legal cases against both players officially came to a close this week when an American court formally dismissed charges against Macdonald, who, like Moore, was arrested and charged with criminal trespass after climbing onto a scissor lift in a Phoenix parking lot in November.
Both players were given diversion deals in a Scottsdale court and fined $US250 ($355), which resulted in their charge being dismissed. Moore’s case was finalised and dismissed last month.
The Hawks stripped Moore of the vice captaincy after the incident, but Mitchell said the club had continued to back the pair who had been transparent about their involvement “right from the start”.
The two players were caught 2½ metres off the ground on a boom lift in a central Scottsdale car park at 10.47pm on November 8, but arrest was kept quiet until March when Moore confessed he had spent a night in jail and apologised in an interview with Channel Seven.
“Everyone [at Hawthorn] was across it,” Mitchell said on Wednesday.
“They had a level of discomfort clearly, but they felt that everyone was in their corner and had a level of understanding.
“We haven’t had any surprises through the whole period.
“So, I think it’s probably nice for them to have it off their back, but from our point of view it hasn’t changed how we’ve treated them.
“They’re both having really good seasons, and we’re really pleased with their performances.
“And sometimes having adversity can make you grow, and I think they’ve both done that this year.”
The third-placed Hawthorn are firmly on track for a top-six finish and will benefit from a week’s rest after round 24 in their pursuit of a premiership. Set to avoid the pressure of playing the AFL’s new wildcard round – for teams between seventh and 10th – Mitchell said he “didn’t read too much” into the AFL’s warning to clubs about player management in the final home-and-away round.
Mitchell declared that such an edict wouldn’t change his club’s decision-making.
“I didn’t read too much into it. I’m sort of more focused on this week,” Mitchell said ahead of Hawthorn’s clash against Brisbane at the Gabba.
“We’ll certainly pick the team that we think can win the game that we’re playing.”
Asked specifically if he felt under any pressure by what the league’s edict from AFL football boss Greg Swann, Mitchell replied: “No, I didn’t feel any pressure at all.
“We’re trying to win all of the games that we play.
“Now, we still manage players because winning today can cost you tomorrow.
“We’ve managed a couple of players across the season, and will continue to do so.
“I didn’t read much into it. It’s not going to affect our decision-making one bit.”
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