Essendon and the wider AFL and coaching community are mourning the passing of assistant coach and former Collingwood and Brisbane Lions assistant Dale Tapping.
Tapping, 59, who had been slated to coach Essendon’s VFL team this year, died on Tuesday, having been afflicted with Myeloma, a blood cancer, since early in 2023. He had remained working at the club until a few weeks ago.
Essendon assistant coach Dale Tapping.Credit: Getty Images
Tapping, who played for Collingwood and Melbourne in the VFL or AFL reserves but never at the peak level, went on to establish himself as a coach, working his way up through the Victorian amateurs (Old Brighton and Old Scotch) before landing a position coaching Collingwood’s VFL program in the previous decade. He was 2016 VFL coach of the year.
Tapping went on to join the Lions as an assistant under highly regarded senior coach Chris Fagan, spent five seasons there and went to Essendon late in 2021, initially as a VFL assistant, then becoming forwards coach for Brad Scott in 2023 and 2024.
“Dale was an outstanding coach, but his true legacy lies in the profound impact he had on players and staff personally,” Essendon senior coach Scott said in a statement.
“His dedication to their growth – both on and off the field – along with his genuine love for seeing people succeed, were qualities admired by all.
Dale Tapping (pictured with Lachie Neale) worked as an assistant coach at Brisbane Lions before joining Essendon.Credit: AFL Photos
“It was a privilege to have coached with him, and his legacy at the club will endure through the players and staff he mentored throughout his career. Dale will be deeply missed by the AFL industry and everyone at the Bombers. Our thoughts are with his wife Kellie, and children Summer and Mason, who have shown incredible strength throughout this difficult time.”
Essendon president David Barham said: “On behalf of everyone at the Essendon Football Club, we are deeply saddened by his loss. Dale was a man of impeccable character who was universally loved and respected by those who were lucky enough to have crossed paths with him over his 28 years in the football industry.
“Our club’s thoughts are with his wife Kellie, children Summer and Mason and the extended Tapping family at this most challenging of times. He has left a lasting impact on the Essendon Football Club and across the broader football community and will be remembered as a selfless individual whose passion and care for people and the game was evident in everything he did.”
In all, Tapping’s involvement in the game spanned 28 years.
Essendon said the Tapping family “wished to highlight the care and support of St Vincent’s Haematology Ward and Cancer Centre and Myeloma Australia through this difficult time”.
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