Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd has called for the club to not rush its coaching search and to open up the field up to a wide range of names as it looks to replace Ben Rutten.
The Bombers on Friday confirmed the six-person sub committee to choose their next senior boss including club footy boss Josh Mahoney, Hawks legend Jordan Lewis and Australian Football Hall of Hamer Robert Walls while revealing they won’t be announcing the new coach before mid-October.
New Essendon president David Barham has said the club is targeting a “more experienced” coach to take the reins, leaving many to suggest former St Kilda and Fremantle boss Ross Lyon is the ideal candidate.
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But Lloyd urged the club to take its time with the process and not have a preconceived target in mind.
“It’s such a big decision … get your coaching right, don’t rush this at all,” Lloyd said on 3AW.
“I’m of the belief that, they’ve said (they want an) experienced coach, so that helps someone like Ross Lyon. But ask the questions of many.
“Interview Mark Williams — what have you got to lose interviewing Mark Williams? If they like Leon Cameron, do it, try Brad Scott, James Hird, whoever it is, don’t just limit yourself to one (candidate), because you don’t know what you’re going to prise out.
“I also think it needs to be opened up to guys who have been in the system for a long period of time, for example (Adam) Kingsley has just got the job, (Craig) McRae has just got the job, I think that should be a factor (not just those who’ve previously coached at senior level).”
Lyon, who was linked to Carlton’s opening last year before pulling out of the race, said this week he’s “very weary and cautious about anything to do with AFL senior coaching” and that a return to the caper was “highly unlikely.”
But Lloyd believes Lyon’s comments left the door ajar for a return, and that the three-time grand final coach will now be weighing up whether or not he wants to go through the process.
“We hear of site testing, giving your philosophies on the game, all those types of things where you’ve got to be all in — and not ashamed if you miss out on the job,” Lloyd said.
“Ross might, at his level, where he’s been a coach for well over a decade at two clubs, he might think ‘they know what I can do, I don’t need to go in a process.’
“A process will be run, and (Lyon will) have to go up against others and maybe present three or four times, is he willing to do that to try and win the job?”
Hawthorn great Dermott Brereton thinks Lyon’s comments suggest the ex-Saints and Dockers boss doesn’t want to participate in a process.
“I have no doubt Ross can still be a wonderful coach… but it sounds to me like he‘s saying: ‘I’ll take the job, but I’m not being interviewed for it. I’m not going to be run up the flag pole to be let down’,” he said on SEN.
“And it sounds like he’s trying to circumnavigate that string of interviews.”
Lyon last coached at Fremantle in 2019 before the club cut ties with him late in the season.
Walls is a former mentor of Lyon’s and played a key role in installing him in his first senior coaching gig at the Saints back in 2007, but Lloyd didn’t think that should impact the Bombers’ formalities.
“Times changed, ‘Wallsy’ (Walls) appointed Ross Lyon 15 years ago, so the game changes,” he said.
“What club you’re coaching, what type of list you’re coaching, what they think they need, I’d like to think you just open it up and may the best candidate win.”
Lloyd also revealed former teammate and fellow Bombers great Hird is still undecided on whether he’ll throw his hat in the ring despite speculation he’s among the main contenders.
“My understanding is he hasn’t made a decision in terms of (wanting to return to) coaching,” he said. “But if he decides he’s in, he’s 100 per cent willing to do whatever he needs to do to win the job.”
