Essendon will be welcoming a former fan favourite into the fold in 2019 with former player Ricky Dyson taking over the role of VFL backline coach.
Following a two-year stint with the Bundoora Bulls in the Northern Football League that included a premiership in his maiden season, the former Bombers midfielder returns to The Hangar in a new capacity.
“It was something that really interested me,” Dyson said about his initial reaction to being approached by Essendon.
“Obviously, when I started coaching at the Bundoora Football Club I realised I really enjoyed it and it’s something that I’ve got a passion for and when I was asked to come back I thought it was a really good opportunity and that the timing was right.”
View Essendon's 2019 VFL fixture
Dyson played 114 games for the Bombers between 2004 and 2012 and will assume the role vacated by Wayne Schultz, who has moved into Essendon’s VFL Women’s program. If there’s one pillar of his coaching that he is looking to transpose from Bundoora to Essendon, it is his passion for developing players.
“As a player you work really hard to improve yourself, but I think that as a coach it can be even more rewarding putting time and effort into people and seeing them achieve their goals," he said.
“I guess that’s why I do enjoy coaching and I’m looking forward to doing it at Essendon. I’m really big on relationships and putting a lot of time into the players and showing belief in them and helping them find their full potential.”
Dyson is just over a month into his time at The Hangar and while admitting to feeling the initial nerves of joining a new program, he says it’s hard not to feel impressed by what he has seen.
“It’s a super professional program and obviously there’s a great connection with the AFL program which is important. First impressions were fantastic. 'DJ'’s (senior coach Dan Jordan) been a really good coach over the last couple of years and last year was quite successful but there’s a real drive within the group that they want to go a couple of steps better.”
Dyson is joined by former development coach Matt Firman, who will assume the position of forward coach for 2019.
“I just want to throw myself into the program with the expectation to help every player on the list and give them every opportunity to succeed," Dyson said.
"I'm determined to make it an easy transition for the guys who aren’t getting picked in the senior team, making it a really enjoyable time for them in the VFL and giving them every opportunity to play the way they want to play so they can get back into the senior team.”
