Another former senior coach opts out of Essendon process

Former Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin has opted out of the Essendon process following a conversation with Bombers president Andrew Welsh, after Chris Scott endorsed Nathan Buckley’s return to coaching while taking a veiled swipe at James Hird.

Goodwin’s decision to remain an assistant coach with Sydney instead of pursuing the Essendon coaching job follows the news that Buckley had politely declined the opportunity to be a candidate to replace Brad Scott at Tullamarine.

Hird’s campaign to be Essendon’s coach again is building momentum.

Former Collingwood coach Buckley, whose team was seconds away from a premiership in 2018, has publicly declared his desire to be Tasmania’s inaugural coach on several occasions.

He’s been interviewed twice - once in October last year and once this month - and is down to the last three candidates, including former Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley and Sydney premiership coach John Longmire.

Buckley officially returned to coaching this year after being offered a position to be Chris Scott’s assistant at Geelong, and the former champion midfielder is now running the Cats’ defensive line.

Hird, on the other hand, has been out of the AFL coaching system for more than a decade, instead opting to work in the VFL program with Port Melbourne.

Scott, who had a playing history against Hird during his time with the Brisbane Lions, raised eyebrows across the industry when asked about Buckley’s coaching credentials and his potential return to the senior ranks.

“It’s impressed me that he has acknowledged that even with that passion that he has realised how long he has been out of the coaching game and how much has changed,” Scott told reporters this week.

“I’m not sure, but I suspect [Buckley] decided a little while ago that yes, he would like the chance to be a senior coach again and that only really happens if you get back into an apprenticeship (assistant coach) role and get up to speed with the modern game, it doesn’t matter who you are.

“To an extent, every now and then, I’m kind of a bit starstruck with Bucks walking around, but he hasn’t used that gravitas to cut corners on the work he’s had to do.”

Tasmania, Essendon and Carlton continue to dominate the coaching landscape, with all three expected to announce a leader by grand final day.

“I’ve made it pretty clear that I’m open to some conversations. I’ve had enquiries and a chat with Andrew Welsh. That’s not a process at the moment that I’m going to lean into,” Goodwin told SEN before the Swans’ loss to Fremantle at Optus Stadium on Thursday night. 

“I’m loving my time in Sydney, continuing to evolve and get back into coaching and seeing where that takes me. It’s got to feel right for you and as well and the club. As I sit here now I won’t be entering that process.

“I’ll keep developing and hopefully when the right opportunity comes I’ll go after it.”

Buckley declined an offer from the Bombers to be a candidate, preferring to focus on his roles at Geelong and with Fox Footy.