News

Byrne to boost Bombers' coaching stock

Thursday, 17 November 2011
Staff writers for essendonfc.com.au
Page 1 of 1

Essendon has bolstered its coaching group by appointing former Adelaide player James Byrne as development coach.

Byrne played 24 games for the Crows from 2000-01, before winning club best and fairests with Glenelg in the SANFL and South Fremantle in the WAFL. He joined Geelong's VFL team in 2004, and captained the side to a VFL premiership in 2007, also winning the J.J. Liston Trophy.

He retired at the end of 2008 and worked as a stockbroker, but has built up his coaching credentials through part-time and voluntary development coaching roles with Geelong and Collingwood.

Paul Hamilton, Essendon general manager of football operations, said Byrne had fitted the club's criteria to fill the development role.

"We think he's an outstanding person, which is always one thing we're looking for," Hamilton told essendonfc.com.au.

"He's got really good human qualities and that really attracted us to him. He's been angling and looking for a way to get back into football, and has been building up his resume in that time."

Byrne's main role will be working with the Bombers' first to third-year players and managing the Jack Jones Development Academy at the club.

Hamilton said Byrne, 33, will be able to build a strong relationship with the younger players, but that his role will not be restricted to the younger core of Essendon's list.

"That's his priority, but it's not limited to that," Hamilton said.

"It's an exciting role for him and we're excited to have him. We think he'll make some really good changes and we think he'll be really good for our players and their development. He's already shown a lot of initiative in a very short time he's been here.

"He's a personable type of guy and he'll build up that rapport with the playing group without too many problems, which is obviously important," he said.

Byrne is another addition to the Bombers with strong links to Geelong, including assistant coaches Mark Thompson and Matthew Egan, and high performance manager Dean Robinson. Brendan McCartney was also an assistant at Essendon last season before accepting the senior role at the Western Bulldogs.

Hamilton said each had brought strong qualities to Essendon from the Cats, and expected Byrne to do the same.

"They're all a little bit different from each other, but I'd say what they all possess is high standards. That's what probably stands out," he said.

A third development coach will be added by the club before the 2012 season begins.

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Welcome to Bomberland James, by the sound of your credentials, you are just what we have been looking for. I must say though, I love poaching from the cats, it really winds their supporters up! :)

- Adrian Reynolds (posted 17/11/2011 4:52:08 PM)

welcome.

- Minnie Miner (posted 17/11/2011 5:07:31 PM)

Our Chairman (Good)'Evans said there would be more appointments before next season and here is another South Australian (our third?)with seemingly impeccable attributes willing to help develope our younger players. Welcome to Windy Hill,JB !

- Mary Tovey (posted 17/11/2011 5:48:47 PM)

Wow! can we name our Melbourne Airport training ground Skilled Stadium? Love it! Go! Bombers! how about Nick Carter as our last Development coach? 2 Premierships as a coach with Golden Square, he played for Brisbane Lions and Bears and also for Melbourne, he coached Golden Square to an unbeaten season in 2011 and only lost 4 games in 40 games.

- al Catraz (posted 17/11/2011 6:25:05 PM)

Congratulations to James Byrne on becoming a part of the Bomber machine. Another coach at the EFC..... The list continues to grow..... The important thing now is to gel the players into a ferocious / skilled playing group.....

- Victor Tallis (posted 17/11/2011 7:16:57 PM)

?????

- Mark McLachlan (posted 17/11/2011 7:51:41 PM)

It seems that James will certainly help James to make our team a very very good one. Welcome to a club which is definitely on the rise James.

- Gordon Moss snr (posted 17/11/2011 10:07:19 PM)

not a new Coach again all these New coaches what would we get Out of it in 2012 we got Powerful coaches and a Good Coaching Group to get us 2 our 17 flag

- MARK JONES (posted 17/11/2011 10:07:54 PM)

What happen to dean wallis

- MARK JONES (posted 17/11/2011 10:12:55 PM)

Welcome James to our Club,wonder whether he is related to Joe Byrne from the Kelly "team".. Surely not true,that James' first task was to assist bob in recovering from losing Josh,and helping him in regaining confidence to provide input again to these forums..?! If true,well done JB :-) Now bob the builder is next on the list James :-) :-)

- Noel Shields (posted 18/11/2011 1:43:14 AM)

Good to see another "good" person at the club. Much is said about our "great" coaching panel but talk is cheap and like the players they must deliver the goods. My expectations of them is certainly increasing.

- Ralph Lepore (posted 18/11/2011 10:38:24 AM)

Noel, picking up on your theme, hope James has studied the lessons from the Glenrowan game- they flooded the defensive fifty and never used the sympathisers waiting in the interchange bush, so with Joe doing his groin and their plans to derail the forward press going awry, by the time Ned came through the midfield he was isolated and easy to bring down. The Kelly boys also didn't have a good preseason and were lucky to get away wins at Euroa and Jerilderie having really got the AFL and refs offside after Stringybark Creek and by using tactics to get around the salary cap that would make Carlton blush.

- Thomas Faunce (posted 18/11/2011 10:40:58 AM)

Won't matter how many coaches they recruit if you don't have the players they can't perform miricles

- Mark McLachlan (posted 18/11/2011 10:48:37 AM)

One wonders whether we need to delist any coaches to stay under the coaching salary cap, but welcome, James. Good to see we are still pillaging the Cattery's pantry.

- Wesley Hull (posted 18/11/2011 10:51:32 AM)

Wes, you watch the AFL put asalary cap on coaches, it was mentioned earlier this year, something about the poorer clubs being disadvantaged

- Mark McLachlan (posted 18/11/2011 12:10:07 PM)

Ha ha ha !!... very good Thomas :-) Enjoyed that very much,excellent :-) :-)

- Noel Shields (posted 18/11/2011 12:30:04 PM)

Thats very creative Thomas!!!! well done I do enjoy witty comments like this.

- Rowan Gerecke (posted 18/11/2011 1:03:35 PM)

Clever one Tom.

- Gordon Moss snr (posted 18/11/2011 1:14:07 PM)

Very clever Thomas, good read

- Mark McLachlan (posted 18/11/2011 2:29:26 PM)

Just read the sun and I hope the betting on where Fev goes is wrong we have a young team and I don't feel he will be any good at the Bombers he has had his chances and I don't want to see him in the black and red

- annette smith (posted 18/11/2011 3:36:33 PM)

Thomas F. Wonderul.

- Kris Bayne (posted 18/11/2011 5:45:37 PM)

Don't take the odds, Annette. Tattslotto offers better.

- alec shiffman (posted 19/11/2011 10:42:11 AM)

Thats more like it Tommy,I knew you could do it,great stuff.

- Bill Carbis (posted 19/11/2011 11:45:58 AM)

I have strong memories of Byrne in the '07 VFL Grand Final. If he can bring that same attitude and footy smarts to his coaching career then Bendigo are a chance to win a flag next year.

- Justin Millard (posted 19/11/2011 5:49:56 PM)

The young players are going to love him.

- Justin Millard (posted 19/11/2011 5:50:27 PM)