Mark McVeigh, a former Essendon player and Sydney assistant coach, will take over as Essendon’s senior coach after what the club said was an “extensive” and “deliberate” selection process.
McVeigh, 45, won the role ahead of Bombers great and ex-coach James Hird, as well as Jaymie Graham and Murray Davis.
Essendon confirmed the announcement on Monday afternoon, a day after the stricken club’s narrow loss to Port Adelaide.
McVeigh would take over “effective immediately”, the club said in a statement.
The official announcement came following a day of speculation and a message of congratulations from former teammate and Bomber’s legend, James Hird.
“I put my heart and soul into the effort, but obviously fell short and that’s the way it goes,” Hird said on Nine yesterday night.
James Hird (L) and Dean Solomon (C) speak with Mark McVeigh (R). (Getty Images: Daniel Pockett)
Brad Scott was sacked on May 25, with Dean Solomon taking over as interim coach for the rest of the season.
Solomon rounded out the Bomber’s worst season in club history with a 10-point defeat to Port Adelaide on Sunday.
McVeigh commits to building Essendon’s ‘next great era’
The search for a new coach has involved a tumultuous selection process, with opinion sharply divided on whether Hird should win another tenure in the role.
Club president Andrew Welsh, who played at Essendon alongside McVeigh and Hird, said the appointment was a unanimous board decision.
“Mark was clearly the best candidate for what this role demands,” Welsh said on the club website.
“We are building the next successful era for Essendon, with a view to playing finals, winning finals and competing for premierships.
“We weighed every candidate against what this role actually demands, and Mark was the clear stand-out.”
McVeigh played 232 games for Essendon and returns to the club on a three-year contract after nearly 14 years away, which also included working as an assistant coach at the Greater Western Sydney Giants.
He also acted as caretaker coach at the Giants in 2022.
“We’re not looking backwards, we’re building the next great era of this football club,” McVeigh said.
“That’s not built on promises. It’s built on our standards, our actions and the work we put in every single day.”
AAP/ABC
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