Essendon is in talks with former Bomber Mark Johnson about joining the club in a new tackling coach role for next season.
The Herald Sun can reveal Johnson, who has a black belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu, is being targeted to help sharpen the Bombers’ tackling technique and efficiency for next year.
The Bombers have been a poor defensive side for a decade, but new senior coach Mark McVeigh is set to make it a priority.
Johnson’s return would bring back another former Essendon great to The Hangar in a part-time role, with the highly-respected and popular backman lauded for his work rate, defensive efforts, toughness and team ethos during his career.
The 2002 best-and-fairest winner played 208 AFL matches including the 2000 premiership. He crossed to Fremantle for his final season in 2008, playing 14 matches in purple.
Since retiring in 2008, Johnson, 46, has become a martial arts expert and teacher.
He would step in to help new coach McVeigh and drive new tackling standards after the team ranked third-last for tackles with an average of 53.7 a game last season.
It is a new role at Essendon which indicates McVeigh’s desire to improve this area for a team which won only two games and finished bottom of the ladder in 2026.
The Bombers are on the hunt for a new coaching panel and a bolstered football department including a new football manager.
The Herald Sun revealed last month that the Bombers were targeting Sydney Swans’ assistant coach Amon Buchanan, who is helping lead the Swans’ finals tilt.
It remains unclear whether club legend James Hird will be part of the new football department after missing out on the senior coaching job to close mate McVeigh.
Former CEO Craig Vozzo has been in talks with the club about taking over as football manager following a study of operation departments across world sport.
Essendon superstar midfielder Zach Merrett is expected to pursue a move to Hawthorn after final talks with McVeigh this week.
Essendon is targeting young Hawthorn tall Noah Mraz in return as part of a deal including an early draft pick.
Hawthorn does not want to lose the versatile big man who has excited the Hawks with his development.