Hird, McVeigh make final presentations as Bombers close in on their new coach

Essendon great James Hird and former teammate Mark McVeigh have made their formal presentations to win the vacant Bombers’ coaching position.McVeigh, an assistant at Sydney, presented to the five-person panel on Friday, while Hird was mid-week.The formal interviews lasted for two-and-a-half hours and were conducted by Bombers president Andrew Welsh, chief executive Tim Roberts, football director Ted Richards, vice president and former Victory chairman Anthony Di Pietro and Essendon’s general manager of people and culture, Caroline Monzon.Awaiting an answer: James Hird has presented to the Essendon coaching panel.NineAn industry source with knowledge of the situation, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the Bombers were also finalising interviews with fellow contenders Jaymie Graham, the Fremantle forwards coach in Melbourne for the Dockers’ clash with the Demons on Saturday, and Murray Davis, Adelaide’s director of coaching. The experienced Graham is also in the hunt for the vacant Carlton role.A Bombers spokesman did not wish to comment when contacted on Friday.A final decision could be made by as early as next week, with the new coach given the chance to meet with players before their exit interviews at the end of the season.The contenders have been quizzed on a range of issues, including game plans, their coaching identity, what the club needs to do to rebuild, and even how they would handle issues in the media.The four contenders had already been interviewed by club consultants Kevin Muscat, the Melbourne Victory great and former coach, and long-time Collingwood and Hawthorn opposition analyst, John Wardrop. Muscat quizzed the interviewees for more than 90 minutes on their coaching philosophy, while Wardrop asked about pure football matters.The contenders had been given a brief on what they could expect to be asked by Muscat and Wardrop.On the hunt: Former Bomber Mark McVeigh spent nine years with the Giants in their coaching ranks. He now wants to coach Essendon.AFL PhotosBombers caretaker coach Dean Solomon – who played alongside McVeigh under Hird’s captaincy – opted this week not to enter the race, with just one win from 10 games since the sacking of Brad Scott.The club is undergoing a major review of its football department in both the men’s and women’s operations. Former CEO Craig Vozzo, now a consultant, has been asked to work on a proposed new structure.Hird, an Essendon dual premiership player and former skipper, coached the club from 2011-13 – during the infamous supplements saga – and again in 2015 before quitting late in that season. He is the coaching director at Port Melbourne in the VFL.McVeigh, who played 232 games for the Bombers, is a close friend of Hird’s. He had been a long-time assistant and caretaker coach of the Greater Western Sydney, before joining the Swans.The Bombers are at the foot of the ladder with only two wins this season, and face another arduous task, against Geelong at GMHBA Stadium, on Saturday.Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletterJon Pierik is a sports journalist at The Age. He covers AFL and has won awards for his cricket and basketball writing.Connect via X or email.From our partners