Jordan Lewis says Essendon’s coaching subcommittee will approach the search for a new mentor with an “open mind” in what looms as a pivotal call for the club.
Lewis is one of six individuals tasked with helping the fallen Victorian superpower find its new coach and will be joined by Carlton great Robert Walls, Bombers GM Josh Mahoney, director Dorothy Hisgrove, Simone McKinnis and Andrew Thorburn.
The assembly of the panel comes as many outsiders speculate over what type of coach the Bombers will opt for after the sacking of the relatively inexperienced Ben Rutten.
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Club president David Barham stated that Rutten’s successor would ideally be an experienced coach, but Mahoney has since stated that experience as an assistant would also be valued.
“From my point of view, I think it’s important to come in with a really open mind in terms of who may apply for the job and also who may secure the job in the end,” Lewis said at the AFL’s finals launch on Monday.
“I think experience is great and it’s probably a club that needs experience – whether it’s a senior coach or an AFL assistant coach.
“But me personally, I’ll be as open-minded as I possibly can in terms of the applicants that apply and also who we may select in the end.
“We’re going through that early phase at the moment and I’d imagine once all the applicants are in, that will start to ramp up over the next four weeks.
“It’s an exciting thing to be a part of.”
Essendon is expected to cast its net far and wide with the likes of Ross Lyon, Leon Cameron, Adem Yze and James Hird among those linked with the vacant role so far.
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