Essendon’s VFL team continue to be pleased with the success to-date of the rotating VFL head coach role between Hayden Skipworth and Paul Corrigan, which has been in place since the beginning of the season.

Along with coaching the VFL team, Skipworth is also a stoppage and development coach for the AFL side, and continues to fulfil his AFL duties when a clash of a VFL match has occured.

VFL operations manager Matthew Little said the move has been a pleasing one, particularly in relation to coaching development at Essendon Football Club.

“I think the way we’ve looked at the coaching here at the footy club, and in particular the head coaching position of VFL is that it is a great opportunity for our coaches to develop.

“And with Hayden’s additional duties coaching the midfield with Mark Harvey at AFL level it’s just great opportunity for Paul Corrigan to step up and coach his own side and really develop in that role.”

Corrigan has been a part of the Essendon VFL mold for several seasons now as the defensive coach, as well as having had previous head coaching experience in lower league competitions.

“Neil Craig and Mark Neeld put it to Hayden when they wanted to beef up the AFL coaching ranks and what we’ve done at a VFL level is bring in Mark Fisher and Dan Jordan to oversee the midfield and defensive posts when Paul is being the head coach on match day.

“Hayden has coached the midfield/development players for three or four years now and Paul has coached the defenders for three years now, so the messaging has been really consistent and I don’t think the players have noticed too much change in the personnel in the coaching box.”

Little admitted the players have welcomed the decision and continue to be excited with the move.

“All the feedback from the playing group is that they’ve been really positive about it.

“We feel that we’ve got adequate coverage across and the players aren’t missing out with exceptional coaching.

“The positive is that Paul and Hayden have both been coaching side-by-side, for an extended period now and they’re moving into their third year together.

“So they’re both very much on the same page and the messaging is very consistent across the board.”