In a move that could only happen at Essendon, 2000 premiership defender Dean Solomon has resigned from the club’s board to join Brad Scott’s coaching panel. The former Fremantle, Gold Coast and GWS assistant coach will return to the touchline after years in administration, and the Bombers insist it’s the perfect fit.
Solomon, who was part of the board that weighed in on Zach Merrett’s future during the recent trade period, will now be part of the very football department he once oversaw.
For Scott, it’s a coup several years in the making.
“He adds a layer of strength”
“I’ve tried to recruit ‘Solly’ in the past as an Assistant Coach and I’m rapt that we’ve been able to secure his services this time around,” Scott told Essendon Media. “We have been working on this plan for several weeks now, and it’s great that he has been able to jump out of his Board role and back into our Football Department.
“He is vastly experienced as a football person who will add a layer of strength to our coaching group and be a key pillar in helping to develop and grow our list. Having coached and played against him, we have aligned philosophy on how the game should be played, and his addition to our group makes us stronger.”
Club president Andrew Welsh said the decision came down to finding the “best use” for Solomon’s expertise. “He has been invaluable to us on the Board, but taking into account everyone’s views, it was clear that it was an opportunity we couldn’t pass up,” Welsh said.