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Mark McVeigh ‘in box seat’ to be named Essendon coach within days Mark McVeigh is in the box seat to be Essendon’s next coach, but the looming decision is set to “fire up” a section of the fanbase. And unsuccessful candidate James Hird has responded. The former Bombers star will reportedly present to the club’s board on Monday in a huge sign he’s on the brink of being appointed senior coach. Watch the best coverage of the 2026 AFL finals series, including every game until the Grand Final LIVE with no ad-breaks during play, on Kayo. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. He appears to have won the race ahead of former Essendon captain and coach Hird, Fremantle assistant Jaymie Graham and Adelaide’s Murray Davis, with a formal announcement expected on Tuesday. Ken Hinkley presented to the Tasmania board just before he was confirmed as their inaugural coach, making McVeigh’s appointment appear imminent. “He’s really got to muck it up from here,” the Herald Sun’s Jay Clark told Fox Footy’s First Crack on Sunday night. “James Hird, Jaymie Graham and Murray Davis, the other candidates, they are not invited into Melbourne tomorrow. It is just Mark McVeigh. “For me, (with) McVeigh, they aren’t just going with an Xs and Os guy, a strategist; they are going with someone they think can unify this football club. READ MORE: BRUTAL REVIEWS 2026: What went right, what went wrong and how to fix AFL’s bottom eight FINALS FIXTURE: Wildcard games revealed as full AFL top 10 confirmed ‘GET TO A GRANNY’: Hawks’ huge finals declaration as ‘Wharfie Time’ rematch looms “He is a galvaniser; someone who can bring together a fanbase who has been clearly divided through this process with James Hird and other candidates. “They think he can lead Essendon through one of its darkest times and reemerge with a whole-of-club focus — and let’s be honest, for the position that the Essendon Football Club is in, they need someone like that.” McVeigh, 45, played 232 games at the Bombers and was one of the ‘Essendon 34’ suspended for using illegal supplements during the 2012 season. He then became an assistant coach working at the Giants, including a period as their interim senior coach working with James Hird and Dean Solomon, before moving to the Swans where he currently serves as defensive assistant coach. On Sunday night, Hird responded to reports McVeigh had been successful in his coaching bid. “Firstly, congratulations to Mark. He’s a great friend of mine, and I’m very proud of him that he’s going to be named the coach, so good on him,” Hird reacted on Channel Nine. “From a personal point of view, it’s very disappointing. I’m disappointed. I put my heart and soul into the effort but obviously fell short, and that’s the way it goes.” Hird said he hadn’t yet heard from the club regarding its decision, but added: “But maybe that’s coming”. Hird also said there hadn’t been discussions around taking on an alternative role at the club, but added he still has a desire to coach. “Not with me, so I think it’s time to move on to other things,” he said. “Yeah, I think so (still desire to coach). I’m obviously down at Port Melbourne at the moment, and we have a finals series to play. “We’ll see what plays out at the end of the year with some other clubs who have contacted me and we’ll see what happens.” Dual premiership player David King isn’t on board with what appears to be Essendon’s decision. “I personally thought James was a better option,” King said on First Crack. “They’ve scanned Australia for their best selection, and they’ve come up with Mark McVeigh. “I think, to me, that highlights why some people didn’t want to put their name up for this job. Some senior people around the AFL said, ‘I’m not risking this — it will be an Essendon-only type of appointment. It’ll be one of theirs’. “I think Graham’s very unlucky to not be the successful candidate. “But I would have gone James — I think this is a perfect time to unify the club. He’s more of a presence at that football club than anyone, Kevin Sheedy aside. “I thought it would have been the right time. I don’t know why they dragged him to the end, but this is what Essendon do.” While Hird had enormous support from a section of the Essendon fanbase, his role in the supplements saga and lengthy period out of the game meant McVeigh has been viewed as the favourite to replace Brad Scott for several weeks. It was reported last week McVeigh could leave the Swans immediately to play a role in end-of-season list management decisions. “That’s one thing this football club’s done well for a long period of time (which) is be ready for the unexpected or if something does arise,” Sydney coach Dean Cox said last week about the potential of losing McVeigh. “And we’ve had those meetings; discussions. We’re really clear on what will happen if he was or wasn’t to get the position.” Asked if he thought the Bombers were never going to go for Hird, King replied: “If they weren’t, they’ve certainly dragged him a long way down the path. “I’m not sure whether they were or they weren’t, but I just can’t get past (that) Hird vs McVeigh for me is a no-brainer. They’ve gone a different way.” King said he wants to see president Andrew Welsh “attach himself” to the McVeigh hire at the new coach’s introductory press conference. “What I want to see (him say is) ‘If this fails, I’ll walk with the coach, but if it works and works big, away we go’,” King added. “And that’s the courage that’s required with these decisions.” Welsh and McVeigh have a storied history together, with the latter a groomsmen at the former’s wedding. Described by Clark as “exceptionally good friends”, he asked the First Crack panel about the idea of a ‘fair process’. “What do you think about the fact that he’s a best mate of the president? I think you have to acknowledge … they’ve known each other for their whole adult lives. Is that a fair process?” Clark asked. Saints great Leigh Montagna responded: “You’ve got to believe that Andrew Welsh would do that (remove himself from a potential conflict), but I think (this decision) does leave it open for people to look at it in that way.” Clark said he expects the non-Hird call will “disappoint a section” of the Essendon fanbase. “That’s the thing with Hirdy — some were massively in his camp, and some were probably a bit the other way,” he said. “This will fire up a section of the fanbase, clearly, and to some extent, that uproar or that backlash will be the narrative, will be the story. “I don’t think we’ll see James Hird stick his hand up for the Essendon coaching job again. He missed out (when it was) Brad Scott, he’s gone through the full process here — it’s been thorough and extensive — and he’s missed out again. “I think he’d say, ‘I’ve had two go’s at it now, and that’s probably enough for me.”