“Throughout the process,it was clear the club required a strong leader and Brad’s track record as a player,coach and administrator demonstrated this.
“Brad has an incredible resume,with a diverse range of roles and is the experienced figure the club required.
“We believe Brad has all the attributes to be the long-term coach of the Essendon Football Club. He’s a strong leader who will drive standards and establish a winning culture.”
Scott came in a late rush. He has a long-standing relationship with Essendon football boss Josh Mahoney,who was a member of the panel,and while he had low-level informal conversations with the Bombers in recent weeks,he was not formally interviewed by the coaching subcommittee until Thursday afternoon.
A board meeting then ratified his appointment. It means Barham has delivered on his stated goal of hiring an experienced coach.
“We look forward to Brad getting started with us and working closely with the broader club and the football department for what will be an important pre-season,” Barham said.
“We are under no illusions about the hard work ahead of us. By the same token,we are excited about the challenge of building a club that our members are proud of and one that delivers sustained on-field success.”