Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Essendon interim coach Dean Solomon hopes an interstate trip to face West Coast can galvanise his playing group and reshuffled football staff following Brad Scott’s sacking.
Scott was axed on Monday night after steering the Bombers to just one win in the last 12 months.
His 1-10 record this season has left the beleaguered club last on the ladder ahead of their clash with the Eagles (3-8) at Optus Stadium.
A large and parochial home crowd is expected at the Sunday twilight fixture ahead of the WA Day public holiday, and Solomon sees it as a great opportunity for his side.
“We jump on a plane together … get over there, connect, and enjoy each other’s company,” the Bombers 2000 premiership defender said this week.
“We’re going to confront a side that’s in reasonable form. Their last three weeks have been pretty impressive, West Coast, they’re building nicely.
“So we know what’s coming, we know what we’re going to walk into, but it is a great opportunity to jump on a plane together and see what we can do.”
It has been a dramatic week for Essendon, with James Hird flagging his interest in returning as coach after news of Scott’s departure broke on Tuesday.
It came amid public suggestions from former Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley and West Coast premiership coach Adam Simpson the job was Hird’s to lose.
Scott’s former assistant Ben Jacobs and head of psychology and wellbeing Ben Robbins both attended Solomon’s first session in charge on Thursday, but later surprised the Bombers when they resigned.
In the reshuffle, Brent Stanton has stepped up as midfield coach, and development coach Michael Hurley will fill Solomon’s role in charge of the defence.
Solomon isn’t publicly angling to fill the senior coaching role, instead focusing on the more immediate task of taking on West Coast and steering the Bombers through the rest of the season.
“I’m really just here to represent our players and our staff and ensure that we hit the finishing line with momentum,” Solomon said.
“It’s a challenging time for them, especially our young (playing) group.
“I’ve been tasked with the role to navigate that and that’s something I’m very grateful for.”
Essendon have made five forced changes to their team after a horror loss to Richmond last week, headlined by captain Andrew McGrath going out with a broken jaw.
Mason Redman, Sam Durham, Matt Guelfi and Jye Caldwell are also unavailable, while Nik Cox, Elijah Tsatas, Will Setterfield, Saad El-Hawli and Max Kondogiannis all return.
West Coast are unchanged following a spirited showing in last week’s narrow 10-point defeat to Collingwood in Scott Pendlebury’s record-breaking 433rd game.
