“I feel ready”: Where things are at for Bombers candidate

Essendon coaching candidate Murray Davis insists he is absolutely ready to take on a senior coaching job.

The coaching director at the Adelaide Crows is one of four names in the mix for the Bombers job alongside James Hird, Mark McVeigh and Jaymie Graham with current caretaker Dean Solomon still to decide.

The Crows assistant has undertaken a lengthy apprenticeship over the course of his coaching career, spending 13 seasons as an assistant at the Brisbane Lions after stints with NEAFL club NT Thunder and Zillmere Eagles in Queensland.

Davis, who says he is a relationships-based coach, has held various footy roles and now believes his experience has held him in good stead for a senior AFL gig.

“I’ve always been ambitious. I think early on I was in a bit of a rush to be honest,” he said on SEN’s Dwayne’s World.

“I’ve learnt over time that there’s nothing greater than experience. As time has gone on and I’ve been able to do different roles and experiences, I feel certainly ready to step into that role and feel like I can add value.”

How did Davis find himself on the Essendon shortlist?

He assumes it is his experience and ability in varying roles that the Dons are attracted to.

“It’s probably one that is best put to Essendon and the panel,” he added.

“I think my experiences and the roles I’ve been doing would clearly have appealed to Essendon.

“To get the opportunity to have that initial conversation and for them to find out a little bit more about me, what my values are, and how I go about coaching - obviously that appealed to them.

“Then onto the next stage and now things have become pretty busy, pretty quickly. It’s exciting.”

Davis outlined where the process with the Bombers sits right now.

“Both Essendon and Adelaide have been outstanding in regard to being respectful with where I’m at in my current role,” he said further.

“Yes, Essendon are in the process of looking for a new head coach but they’re also respectful of the fact that I’ve got a role to do. Adelaide have been outstanding in their support of me going through this process as well.

“Things will start to play out a little bit over the remainder of this week and next week. There’s some things to be done in front of us which ironically is to win a game over Essendon for the Adelaide Crows.”

His next interview with Essendon is impending, but he was unable to provide a timeframe of when the Dons will make their final call.

“That will all happen over the next week or so,” he said of his next chat.

“I haven’t talked to Essendon about that so I can’t really give you a time.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it to this point and will continue to work on making sure if it doesn’t work out that I can make Adelaide successful and we’ll see what comes from that.”

Hodge’s ringing endorsement for Bombers candidate

Former Lion Luke Hodge believes Davis would be the perfect candidate for the Bombers gig.

The highly-rated and experienced assistant coach spent more than a decade years with Brissie, culminating in the 2024 premiership.

Hodge worked closely with Davis during his time at the Lions and knows exactly what he can bring to a club in need like the Dons.

“If you look out of those four people, Murray Davis fits to a tee what they actually need, in my opinion,” Hodge said on Channel 7’s Agenda Setters.

“He was at the Brisbane Lions when they had the go-home factor, when no players wanted to be at Brisbane. Sounds a lot like Essendon right now.

“He was there when Chris Fagan got there and the glass half-full, the positive mindset, the growth mindset that they tried to teach the players - Murray was front and centre for all that.

“There’s a reason why Harris Andrews is as good a leader as what he is right now, because he worked so closely with Murray Davis.

“So if you look at the players on that list that have gone through what Essendon are going through at the moment, Murray is probably the only one who matches up.

“You also look at what he’s done at Adelaide. When he got there they were 15th, and then they went to first.”

Davis also has a very strong reputation in the Northern Territory having coached the NT Thunder to a NEAFL premiership in 2011.

“Murray Davis helped start NT Thunder and coached them to a flag. He’s got an unbelievable relationship with a lot of Indigenous players,” Hodge added.

“Cal Ah Chee moved across to Adelaide. I believe a big reason was Murray Davis was there as well.

“He’s ticking all the boxes.”