Essendon pursues Western Bulldogs assistant Brendon Lade for coaching panel

Essendon is targeting Western Bulldogs midfield coach Brendon Lade to join the club’s coaching staff for the 2027 season. The move follows the appointment of Mark McVeigh as senior coach on August 24, who has already begun working at the club's facility. Lade, a former Port Adelaide player, has served as an assistant at the Western Bulldogs since 2022 and holds experience from roles at St Kilda, Richmond, and Port Adelaide. Essendon currently seeks to fill several coaching vacancies following the departures of Ben Jacobs, Cam Roberts, David Rath, and Dan McPherson. Caretaker coach Dean Solomon has been offered a position to remain, though he has not yet committed to the role. The club is also considering three-time Richmond premiership player Dion Prestia for a potential development coaching position or a spot on the playing list for next season.

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