Essendon picks McVeigh over Hird as senior coach on three-year deal

Essendon named Mark McVeigh, 45, senior coach on August 24, 2026, on a three-year contract. He beat James Hird, Jaymie Graham and Murray Davis for the role. The board's decision was unanimous, per president Andrew Welsh. McVeigh played 232 games for the Bombers and takes over three months after Brad Scott's sacking on May 25.