An experienced premiership coach has revealed whether he’ll enter Essendon’s hiring process.
Plus, why there’s a growing selection conundrum at Fremantle. Read on in AFL Daily.
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FLAG COACH MAKES CALL ON BOMBERS JOB
Melbourne premiership coach Simon Goodwin has made a call on whether he’ll enter the running for the Essendon job, after being sounded out by Bombers president Andrew Welsh.
Goodwin, the Swans’ director of coaching and performance, has played an integral role in Sydney’s fast-paced transition offence, having joined Dean Cox’s staff at the end of last year.
It comes after Goodwin was dismissed by the Demons in August last year in somewhat acrimonious circumstances.
The experienced mentor has stated his desire to one day return to senior coaching, but speaking pre-game on Thursday night, it won’t be with the Bombers.
“I think I’ve made it pretty clear that I’m pretty open to some conversations,” Goodwin told AFL Nation radio.
“I’ve had an inquiry and a chat with Andrew Welsh, but that’s not a process I’m going to lean into.
“I’m loving my time in Sydney and continuing to evolve and get back into coaching and seeing where that takes me.
“But … it’s got to feel right for you as well, and the club, so right as we 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.”
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Goodwin hasn’t put a time expectation on when he’ll set his mind to re-entering the senior coaching sphere, but he knows an opportunity will eventually present.
“It just comes down to the right opportunity … I want to get back into senior coaching at some stage, and I know that’ll come up at some stage,” he said.
“You’re always tempted, there’s no doubt about that. If you’re keen to get back into it, you tend to have a chat to anyone.
“I was open to chatting to Welshy about what that opportunity might look like, but there’s a bit to work through in that process, and at the moment, where it sits right now, it’s not something that I’m going to pursue.”
In the coming days and weeks, Essendon is set to meet with at least James Hird, Hayden Skipworth, James Kelly, Corey Enright, Jaymie Graham and Mark McVeigh as part of its search, while Sydney premiership mentor John Longmire has remained tight-lipped on his potential Bombers interest.
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DOCKERS’ SELECTION CONUNDRUM
The battle for Fremantle’s second ruck spot appears as open as ever after Thursday night.
With Luke Jackson clearly owning the Dockers’ number one ruck mantle, there seems to be competition for his back-up.
Cox was put into the line-up for the game against the Swans after a couple of runs in the WAFL with Peel Thunder.
It comes as the Dockers made the decision at the selection table this week to manage Sean Darcy.
He’s only played seven games at AFL level this season due to injury.
Coach Justin Longmuir admitted Darcy didn’t play because of the five-day break between the game against the Swans and last week’s loss to Greater Western Sydney.
He said that if the break was longer, Darcy would have played against the Swans.
But after Cox’s performance as Jackson’s deputy against Sydney, there’ll be interest in who lines up for the Dockers against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval in Round 19.
Dockers flip the script against Swans | 02:45
Cox, who took some important intercept marks in defence, finished with 10 disposals, six marks, and 10 hitouts, as well as one of the Dockers’ nine final-term goals.
“A little bit of horses for courses,” Longmuir said in his post-match press conference on Thursday night.
“Everyone really needs to earn their spot in the side, don’t they?
“So, we’ve got competition for spots, not just in the ruck, we’ve got competition for spots all over the ground.
“Jaeger O’Meara, one of our more senior players and a leader, has been playing in the WAFL and out of the team.
“He got his opportunity tonight and came on and performed his role.
“So, it’s healthy competition for spots. It keeps everyone on edge and preparing really well.
“Our rucks are probably a bit the same.”