The Essendon Football Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Daniel McPherson and Cam Roberts to key positions within the club’s AFL football department.
Daniel McPherson will join the Bombers as General Manager of Performance while Cam Roberts will step into the newly created role of Head of Development.
These key appointments support the club’s investment in player development and will ensure the football department is better supported in its pursuit of on field success.
Welcome, Daniel. Congrats, Cam!
— Essendon FC (@essendonfc) November 2, 2022
McPherson joins Essendon from North Melbourne where he was General Manager of Football Performance for the 2022 AFL Season. Prior to North Melbourne, he led the football operations at Melbourne including the AFL, AFLW, VFL and VFLW programs. His work at Melbourne contributed significantly to their AFL Premiership in 2021.
McPherson will report directly to Josh Mahoney and will be responsible for driving and aligning the important performance functions of coaching and physical performance for the AFL program.
General Manager of Football Josh Mahoney said McPherson brings a wealth of experience and success to Essendon.
“Dan has high-level experience as both a player and football administrator, is a great football person and highly respected throughout the industry. We’re all very excited to have him join the Bombers and lead a key part of our football program,” Mahoney said.
“He’s had a lot of success driving winning football programs across men’s and women’s football and he understands what it takes to build a successful team off-field.”
“Dan was the standout candidate to join the Bombers.”
The appointment of Cam Roberts to Head of Development further strengthens Essendon’s coaching team.
Roberts brings a wide range of experience working both in football and the corporate world. Roberts joined Essendon in 2019 from Melbourne University Blacks Football Club in the Victorian Amateur Football Association where he was their head coach. Since 2019 he has been the VFL Senior Assistant Coach and Development Coach at Essendon.
Roberts will lead a program aimed at improving all Essendon players ensuring they thrive and reach their full potential. He will manage the development team which includes newly appointed coaches Michael Hurley, Travis Cloke and Brent Stanton for our list focusing on skill development and football craft.
His understanding and passion for welfare will assist in his role having worked closely with the Bombers’ 1-4 year players.
“We have been impressed with Cam’s contribution to Essendon and this new coaching structure will support him to best progress our players. He shares a similar philosophy to Brad Scott on the development of players and have been impressed with his commitment and determination to getting the best out of all players,” Mahoney said.
“Cam’s life and coaching experiences, relationships, positive attitude, and planning processes, made him a perfect candidate for this role and we look forward to Cam heading up a great group of development coaches and pulling together a program that improves all Essendon players.”
McPherson and Roberts start their new positions at Essendon today.
