Essendon coach John Worsfold could join Fremantle next season, according to reports fromย AFL Nation.
The Bombers were knocked out of the finals by West Coast on Friday night in a 55-point loss, which comes amid whispers that Worsfold could be moved on if the club fails to fire this September.
Perth journalist Tim Gossage believes the Dockers could look to add Worsfold in a mentoring role for their next coach.
โSo they cut him (Worsfold) loose and the mail is picking up momentum today, particularly during the week, that heโll end up at Fremantle,โ Gossage said on the AFL Nation coverage of the elimination final.
โIf he severs ties and he goes on his terms, or whatever decision is made, that heโll go into a role at Fremantle as basically their head of coaching.
โIf Longmuir gets the job itโs almost perfect.โ
Former Docker Paul Hasleby said Worsfold's experience would be of great value to his old club.
โThat would be great. That would be a perfect match between the two,โ he said.
โHeโs young (Longmuir) and to have that leader above him, and John Worsfold is very, very good in the way he sets out the guidelines. Heโs a very good mentor.โ
AFL Media's Mitch Cleary thinks Worsfold's departure from Essendon could be a win-win.
โA few people Iโm speaking to and hearing from, it wouldnโt surprise me, putting his family back in Perth like they have been the last 12 months, he might just say Iโve had enough with the Essendon Footy Club,โ Cleary said.
โItโs time for someone else to come in and take the reins.
โBen Rutten is all the rage and all the talk internally at the Bombers. Heโs seen as a senior coach-in-waiting. Whether heโs ready to go now remains to be seen.
โThe other one is Blake Caracella who will join 2020 as an assistant coach.
โI know John Worsfold has spent a considerable amount of time in WA this year and thereโs been a couple of trips where heโs gone back and spent more time with his family.
โAdding all that up, I wouldnโt be surprised if we come to a stage where John Wosrsfold says, โIโve had enough and I want to go back to live in WAโ.
โIt would not shock in the slightest if John Worsfold were to bob back up and go to the enemy across town at Fremantle in a coaching advisory role of some sort under a first-time coach and the man leading the race right now at the Dockers is Justin Longmuir.โ
Worsfold is contracted at the Bombers until the end of next season.
