Senior coach John Worsfold is set to join an illustrious club when he takes charge for the 350^th time at AFL level on Saturday against St Kilda.

It’s a significant milestone for Worsfold, who is currently the most experienced coach in league, and it gives us the chance to look back on his achievements over 16 years leading Essendon and West Coast.

Worsfold was already cemented into Eagles folklore when he arrived to coach after a remarkable playing career at West Coast, which saw him captain the club in its first two premierships.

And it didn’t take the former player long to show similar talent in his new job in the coaches box. In fact, his first six seasons yielded six finals appearances, including consecutive Grand Finals in 2005 and 2006.

After famously falling agonisingly short to Sydney in the first of those premiership deciders, the star-studded West Coast side responded brilliantly under Worsfold for a heart-stopping one-point victory over the Swans the following year.

Worsfold celebrates his first premiership as a coach in 2006.

Seven more seasons leading the team followed, including preliminary and semi-final appearances in 2011 and 2012 respectively.

Finishing up in the west in 2013, Worsfold was uncertain about his coaching future, but he was to become a key pillar for Adelaide in 2015 following the tragic death of then senior coach Phil Walsh.

Working as a coaching director at the club, his role proved pivotal in a devastating time for the club and marked a return to coaching that would see the decorated leader appointed as Essendon’s coach later that year.

But it wasn’t to be the end of his challenges as the club’s supplements saga continued to play out, leaving Worsfold to coach a side without several of its stars in his first season in red and black due to year-long suspensions.

Despite the significant hurdle, the new coach never complained and impressed in his first year in charge of the Bombers.

With a full squad back at his disposal in 2017, he then headed the team’s return to the finals in a strong display of leadership.

Worsfold rallies the Bombers during the side's stirring victory over Adelaide in round one last year.

While 2018 didn’t start as Worsfold had hoped, a terrific finish to the year saw the Bombers match their 12 wins from the year prior, leaving plenty of reasons to be excited for 2019.

Now in his fourth year at The Hangar, the club is hopeful the side can return to its best football, starting with its important clash with the Saints at Marvel Stadium after a disappointing loss in round one.

When the Bombers head out onto the ground to face St Kilda, Worsfold will become just the 16^th person to coach 350 VFL/AFL games.

A humble champion of the game, Essendon is proud to celebrate the remarkable achievement. 

COACHING ACHIEVEMENTS
349 games
2006 Premiership
McClelland Trophy (2006)
Jock McHale Medal (2006)
All-Australian Coach (2006)
2 x AFLCA Coach of the Year Award (2006 and 2011)
Nine finals campaigns

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