{"id":842813,"date":"2026-08-04T04:22:12","date_gmt":"2026-08-04T04:22:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/842813\/"},"modified":"2026-08-04T04:22:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T04:22:12","slug":"afl-whispers-essendon-in-feud-with-football-icon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/842813\/","title":{"rendered":"AFL whispers: Essendon in feud with football icon"},"content":{"rendered":"

Essendon wasn’t too pleased with a scathing assessment from an AFL<\/a> premiership coach.<\/p>\n

Should Carlton consider trading a leader?<\/p>\n

And will Dean Solomon<\/a> put his hand up for the Bombers job?<\/p>\n

All that and more from media buzz…<\/p>\n

Leigh’s lethal Bombers assessment<\/p>\n

A war of words has erupted between AFL<\/a> icon Leigh Matthews and Essendon.<\/p>\n

Matthews stated on the weekend he wouldn’t go near the Bombers coaching vacancy.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you desperately want a job you just go for it, right, but anyone who has choices ain’t going to Essendon,” he said on\u00a03AW.<\/p>\n

\u201cA coach is only as good as what’s around him in players and staff and support from the top.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me from the outside, I don’t know the Essendon people that well, but I would have no confidence to coach under that regime.\u201d<\/p>\n

The scathing assessment came across the eyes of Essendon chief executive Tim Roberts, who wasn’t happy.<\/p>\n

According to\u00a0The Agenda Setters, Roberts reached out to the AFL<\/a> regarding Matthews’ comments.<\/p>\n

“When you are a mess of a footy club, take your medicine. Don’t pick up the phone to the AFL and dob in someone (Leigh Matthews) who’s on a platform that everyone can hear.”<\/p>\n

Kane Cornes on Essendon contacting the AFL regarding Leigh Matthews’ comments on 3AW \ud83d\udc49\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/qL75pTg7hB<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 7AFL (@7AFL) August 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Weitering woes?<\/p>\n

Should Carlton consider trading key defender Jacob Weitering<\/a>?<\/p>\n

That was the question posed on\u00a0Footy Classified following the emergence of the Blues under Josh Fraser<\/a>, and the quick development of Rising Star fancy Harry Dean<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Weitering has been floated as a potential trade option to help bolster the club’s draft hand, especially given the imminent arrival of Pick 1 candidate and father-son gun Cody Walker.<\/p>\n

Carlton football boss Chris Davies said multiple times the club’s list needs work, including last week.<\/p>\n

Weitering is contracted until 2031. He’s only played two games under Fraser due to injury.<\/p>\n

“If you’re going down the Weitering path, you’re not selling him for cents on the dollar.” \ud83d\udc40<\/p>\n

Could the emergence of Harry Dean and the Blues overall see the club consider trading Jacob Weitering?#9FootyClassified<\/a> | Watch on 9 & 9Now \ud83d\udda5\ufe0f pic.twitter.com\/dntWujqugm<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) August 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Solomon set to bypass Essendon coaching race<\/p>\n

Bombers caretaker Dean Solomon<\/a> is expected NOT to put his hand up for the senior coaching gig at Essendon.<\/p>\n

Solomon took over from Brad Scott<\/a> after he was sacked in May and has only secured one victory amid a tumultuous season for the Tullamarine club.<\/p>\n

According to\u00a0Footy Classified, it’d be a surprise if Solomon throws his hat in the ring, which already consists of James Hird<\/a>, Mark McVeigh<\/a>, Murray Davis and Jaymie Graham.<\/p>\n

“I’m going to be highly shocked if he is to officially want to seek to be part of the process.”<\/p>\n

Damo on Dean Solomon \ud83d\udde3\ufe0f #9FootyClassified<\/a> | Watch on 9 & 9Now \ud83d\udda5\ufe0f pic.twitter.com\/q8QYkb83gb<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) August 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Premiership Hawk blasts Lion for touring rival’s facilities<\/p>\n

Former Hawthorn player Jordan Lewis<\/a> believes Lachie Neale’s decision to tour Collingwood’s grounds a day before a game was “ill-timed, tone-deaf and inappropriate”.<\/p>\n

Neale walked through the Pies’ facilities before he and the Lions were pantsed by Carlton the day after at Marvel Stadium.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven if it was permitted or not, I just thought it was really inappropriate to be doing that the day before a game,\u201d Lewis told\u00a0On The Couch.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe might be the player \u2013 and he seems like he’s the player \u2013 that’s able to do other things but then also be able to perform on gameday, which is fantastic. But if I’m his teammate and I’m thinking: \u2018Geez we are doing absolutely everything to get ourselves back in the season.’ I know he’s a big performer, but he’s checking out opposition facilities the day before (the Lions play at Marvel Stadium) \u2013 and then they come out and perform like that.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just thought it was ill-timed, it was tone-deaf and it was inappropriate.\u201d<\/p>\n