Dean Solomon remains club-first.

While most of the questioning at his weekly press conference surrounded his midweek decision to not pursue the senior coaching role in 2027, Solomon maintained that the focus is firmly on giving his troops the best chance to compete strongly against Geelong. 

Ahead of the trip down the highway, the Bombers’ Senior Coach reiterated the process that went into his decision, gave assessments on the Club’s future and highlighted the continuity of one of his defenders as a positive from the season to date.

Solomon on… his decision

I took my time with it.

It's important because I never said I was ‘in’ either, it was a consideration. My family lives in Northern New South Wales. 19 months ago when the assistant coaching role came available, I left two business partners quickly to take up this role. It’s multi-layered. 

The time's just not right for me.

In any decision I make, I go through a process which involves all those things, family, business, where you live, the timing of the job, the commitment of this job, all that sort of stuff, always. 

Of course I considered it, but it's just not the right time. 

Solomon on… what his future looks like 

I'm still contracted (for next year). But again, that's multi-layered as well because a new coach will come in and they'll have a structure in their mind and the people who they'd like to fill that with. 

It’s all unknown over the next couple of weeks until that coach is put in place but we'll work through it and see where it lands. 

Solomon on… what the group requires in its next coach 

I think people just need to be really clear on where the list is at and it's an exciting young group. 

The opportunity for the next coach is a really exciting one. I think I said about (the next) 40-60 games being a real development phase that we need to go into. Post-that, it's going to be quite exciting but there's a lot of hard work to be done still in the short-term. 

There’s a really good young group here who I keeps saying are really hungry to be really, really good. But as we know, unfortunately it takes a bit of time and we just need to be patient with that.

You’ve just got to be the right person for the right time, for the right job. They’re taking the time of the process to be incredibly thorough to ensure they get the right person for this job. 

Whether that's a person who has or hasn’t played for this football club, I think it's irrelevant - I really do. 

Solomon on… the work that lies ahead

It’s a big job, it's an exciting challenge but again, as I keep going to members and supporters, they should be really excited about what the next two-to-three years can look like.

You look at the journey (of clubs like Fremantle). One or two years, it doesn't just go straight on top of that. It takes time, you’ve got to be thorough in the way that you plan, the way you develop holistically. The leadership programs, all the stuff that goes into it.  

It's an exciting job, but it's like any job. It's a big one. 

That's why you take on these jobs, to be able to provide solutions and create pathways for the club to be great again. AFL coaching is hard and that's the challenge that comes for the next coach - I'm sure that person will be up for it. 

We're a proud club and we clearly don't like where we're currently at. I'm really grateful for the opportunity to lead a club that I love and that I owe so much to. It's given me so much in my life and to be able to sit in the chair for a short period of time has been amazing and I'm very grateful for that. 

But again, I can come back to the group that I've really enjoyed working with and I'm really positive about where they can head. 

I love this club. I've always been of the view that if I can help, I’m more than happy to give back. 

Solomon on… Geelong 

Of course it's tough. They’ve been one of the great clubs for a long period of time and they’re on their home deck. 

I said post-game recently, our young group are like a red rubber ball bouncing back up, they walk back in two days after a game and they want to get to work on themselves individually, collectively, and then look at the oppo. 

I don't like having these lights on me – it’s not about me. The players are the most important part of this football club and I'm here to represent them.

I’m here to provide an environment that gets the best out of them individually, collectively and to give them the best opportunity to beat the Cats.

Solomon on… Zach Reid’s continuity 

‘Reidy’s had a great year for us. He’s an emerging leader of this football club and a really good person - the fact he's been able to string a whole season together has been sensational. 

Of course, exposure to some of the best key forwards in the comp is always a good thing. Dustin Fletcher wasn't a big build either, but they find ways. Zach’s footy IQ is at a high level and these experiences are going to be great for him in the long-term. 

To be really honest and fair, the biggest win for him this year is the continuity he's had in his game week-on-week, considering all the injuries he's gone through in previous years. 

Mat Inness and the boys have done an amazing job. He's built up confidence on the back of that.

He'll have another big preseason and will become a very, very good defender of this competition.