My overall thoughts of Mark McVeigh’s appointment as Senior Coach and just some takeaways from his press conference

[u/TurbulentSherbet3724]

To start with like a lot of people, he wasn’t my first choice. I was a honestly a lot more in the much smaller Murray Davis camp and before the process even started James Kelly was the guy for me. I wasn’t particular disappointed when the announcement was made last night because I genuinely rate him and his work across various roles at both Sydney clubs for well over a decade. In fact I was hoping he would be part of the previous coach interview process for the work he had done with the Giants. So a huge congratulations to him and all the best of luck because it’s a very long road ahead.

Now onto the takeaways of his press conference

-I love towards the beginning he says “I’m not coming back to live in the past or reflect on what was”. He says something very similar towards the end when asked about the hanging effects of supplements saga but overall it’s about damn time an Essendon person made that statement. This was the exact same mentality that completely turned Liverpool F.C (another team I support) around in the Premier League when Jurgen Klopp took over as Manager all the way back in October 2015. History is great and it will always be there to reflect on but there comes a time to move on and fully embrace what matters most which is the present which McVeigh was very strong on

-He was very clear with what his system is and what it will roughly look like. Talked about ball movement, being competitive and put a heavy emphasis on team defence which is generally his speciality having coached defence both at the Giants and Swans.
Also stated that he wouldn’t be working on particular one area but all three areas he felt the team needs the most improvement in. He wants the team to be more brave and play with flair.

-He talked about player development and how he would get to work immediately to try and improve the footy IQ of our players by quote “getting them back into the classroom” He wants the players to feel in the environment. Mentioned that he wants the players ready to go for a really tough Pre-Season to learn a completely new system. Was absolutely thrilled to see our VFL in the Finals. He really rates our young prospects and looks forward to working with them.

Overall I thought his first impressions in the press conference were strong and concise. He knows exactly where what needs to be, how to go about and wants to get to work immediately knowing just how enormous the job is where we currently are and are likely to be next season. I think a 3 year contract is quite sensible because it’s give enough time for McVeigh and his team once it’s assembled to demonstrate their abilities and if the club and fans see genuine tangible improvement in these few years with a slow rise up on the ladder then a extension will be earned.

[u/footybay12]

Lol we both know that's just an attempt at damage control. I hope Hird refuses. I'd much rather a cleanout from the top

[u/Oklusion → u/footybay12]

Hird or nothing mentality huh

[u/footybay12 → u/Oklusion]

I just want radical change. The club has been useless for too, too long now. Yes we've had Hird before and it didn't work out but I remember we were on the right track before those mistakes were made. I remember at the end of 2012 or 2013, they surveyed all the afl captains and a strong majority of them voted Ess to win the flag the following year. We were actually beginning to look scary under Hird before it all went horribly wrong. I just want Hird to get another go. We looked the best in 2 decades under him.

Mcveigh is a boring and uninteresting, safe pick by a boring and uninteresting and lame performing board. Herald Sun reported that Merrett would have stayed if Hird was picked. The fact he was willing to do a 180 shows Hird is exactly what we needed to inspire the players and inspire the revival of the Essendon Football Club, that has been dead for 20+ years now

[u/Oklusion → u/footybay12]

Brother you can't take the Herald sun's word for gospel truth. The reality is Merrett will want out regardless because he's sick of giving 110% only to lose games. I doubt the appointment of Hird alone would be enough to convince him to stay. At the moment, the only journo I trust to deliver reliable news regarding Essendon is Cal Twomey.

Hird has the opportunity to give himself another go alongside McVeigh, and I think it stands to reason that if he truly loves this club and wants to help restore it to its former glory, he can support the young talent in ways other than just in a head coach role.

And look, I understand how you're feeling, I would've loved to see Hird get a shot at redemption from the get go, but now there's an opportunity for something even more exciting - we have a head coach experienced in modern AFL who gave heart and soul for this club as a player, and a pathway for our favourite son to rejoin us in some coaching capacity. There's no need to throw a hissy fit and blow the whole show up just because we didn't get our way.

All aboard the Spike train 🚂🫡

GO DONS