Essendon president Andrew Welsh backs him to coach Bombers to premiership
Essendon chairman Andrew Welsh has given his strong backing to veteran coach Brad Scott, saying he believes Scott will be Essendon’s next premiership coach.
In a wide-ranging interview following a senior briefing for this edition, Welsh said there was no reason to think Scott would not be the coach to send up the drought-breaking flag.
Welsh, who has taken a hands-on approach as chairman on football as the club continues to reset with a new chief executive and a roster plan starting in 2023, said the Bombers had taken the “hard path” of youth policy and knew the heat would come to the club but it was the right path.
“We have every confidence that Brad will be our next premiership coach. We have no reason to think otherwise,” Welsh told this imprint when asked about Scott’s position.
“As I said, we are seeing progress in development and progress across the team, we are all on the same page in the path we have taken in building the list and the players we have brought in and we knew there would be times when excitement would come in a young group so we needed to stay connected within the company.
“We attach great importance to this within the club because we know it is the right path. We know it is probably an inconvenient path and it is a difficult path, but it is the best way to set the football club up for success.”
Welsh added: “From all the metrics we’re tracking at this stage and the work Brad has done with the playing group, we see no reason why he shouldn’t be our next premiership coach.”
Fourth-year Essendon coach Scott has been signed on a contract until the end of 2027. The Bombers face a significant payout if they part ways with him.
Welsh spoke to the masthead on Monday in an interview recorded following a briefing with key figures at the club, chaired by Welsh and new CEO Tim Roberts. It is notable that Scott was also at the briefing, unlike Carlton’s recent media interviews with only chief executive Graham Wright and chairman Rob Priestley.
Essendon had arranged an interview with the chairman before their win against Melbourne on Saturday, which boosted morale and ended a 17-game losing streak. The president’s message was in line with the club’s stance; Focusing on the need to source and develop elite talent and recognizing the impact of Tasmania’s participation on future drafts, the idea was that they would continue their youth path.
Welsh admitted the first two games of 2026 had been disappointing.
“The performances in the first two weeks were not as expected, quite disappointing. I think we had a poor quarter and a half compared to the North Melbourne game. We played quite well afterwards,” he said.
“The Bulldogs’ two-and-a-half quarters were very impressive, the intensity was very high. The defense was starting to gel, a few plays were coming together. Then on the weekend with Melbourne I thought it was our best complete game performance in the last couple of years.”
Essendon have been training differently under new fitness boss Mathew Inness, moving to a higher speed and intensity style.
Welsh also explained:
* The club took star midfielder Zach Merrett’s suggestions into consideration and the former captain asked for a trade with Hawthorn.
“When the issue arose, roster management and coaching were addressed and then feedback was given to the football management as to why Zach should not be traded from a football perspective, which was already quite convincing; he is an elite player, a leader of the club and highly respected as an Essendon man.
“There was no need for any conversation about trading Zach from that point forward because it wasn’t something the board would do on the advice of roster management.
“That was pretty clear from the start and we knew the pressure was coming. But we didn’t want to step back from our strategy of what was best for the club and that was to keep Zach in the areas we needed to work on as a club and listen to Zach, so we did that… and he’s seen those changes already made, he’s in his best mood and he’s performing really well.”
* The Bombers’ biggest challenge was sticking to their plan to build a sustainable roster.
“The biggest challenge is to stick to a plan to build a list that will be permanent and one that will give the club the ability to maintain its status as the biggest club in the country on and off the field.”
* According to Champion Data, the Bombers had just two elite players: Merrett and the injured Nic Martin.
“I think we have two players in the elite category according to Champion Data, one is Zach, the other is Nic Martin, who didn’t play… and he didn’t play much last year due to his ACL injury.”
However, the club believes recent drafts have produced elite talent, particularly the 2025 crop (pick 10 Jacob Farrow Gather Round’s AFL rising star).
Welsh said the Bombers believe they have elite talent on the upcoming roster. “Thanks to good development and good learning, many people will, over time, enter the elite category.”
* That Essendon’s list management team are only looking for certain types of experienced players, i.e. “certain types of elite players”. The Dons have frequently fielded the second-youngest team in the AFL this year and have only one player aged 30 or over (Merrett). “We need to make sure we are an attractive club that can sit at the table once these conversations start.”
* Essendon, like many other clubs in Victoria, would “love” to have Port superstar and free agent Zak Butters. The Bulldogs and Geelong are seen as Butters’ leading contenders.
“So it would be a list management decision, but I think we might be one of the few clubs that want Zak Butters on our list. But what it takes and how to get there, I think, you know, could be challenging for a lot of other clubs that are out there and are in the position they’re in, but he’s certainly a player that I personally rate extremely highly.”
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Jake Niall is a Walkley-winning sports journalist and The Age’s chief AFL writer.Connect with: X or email.
