The Essendon Bombers have announced a contract extension for senior coach Brad Scott, signing him on until at least the end of 2027.
Scott's initial contract, which he signed at the start of his tenure at Windy Hill in 2023, was set to conclude at the end of the 2026 season.
"I'm grateful for [Essendon's] ongoing trust in our direction," Scott said of the extension on Tuesday.
"It gives us the stability we need to continue implementing our plan and creating a consistent winning environment. We've reset our football club over two years, and we've shown that we've got a stable base from which to build. This is an exciting time for all players, coaches and staff at our club."
Scott iterated his eagerness to bring success back to Essendon.
"Coaching Essendon is a privilege I never take for granted, and I'm genuinely excited about the future of this football club. I remain fully committed to driving our shared ambition," he said.
Earlier on Tuesday, the two-time premiership player revealed the desires of both himself and the club to continue stabilising the Bombers, thinking it could create an "attractive" place for players to come.
"The club has been yearning for stability for a long time," Scott said.
"If the club think that for stability and unity, in a show of action, they want to put an extra year on my contract, then I'm open to that because I'm committed to what we're doing here.
"Like a lot of clubs, we're clearly going to be in the market to improve our list through all avenues.
"I don't think clubs who don't have stability are overly attractive.
"We've reset our football club over two years, and we want to show that we've got a stable base from which to build."
Essendon President David Barham expressed confidence from the club that Scott will be the leading figure to re-establish the Bombers as a top eight side.
"Brad has proven to be an impressive leader in his first two years at [Essendon]," Barham said. "He has selflessly overseen a reset of our list, with 20 list changes in just two years. His club-first mentality has impressed everyone, and he has accepted the challenge of rebuilding the Bombers, purposefully and respectfully, into a team that can compete at the highest level.
"The extension of Brad's contract for another year reflects the club's confidence in his leadership and serves as a statement of stability and alignment, both of which are critical for the Essendon Football Club's future success."
Over his two seasons at Essendon, Scott has led the Bombers to back-to-back 11th placed finishes on the ladder, with a career record of 22-23-1. Essendon's season will kick off on Friday night against eternal rivals Hawthorn at the MCG.
Bombers fans will see at least two new faces against the Hawks, with the club confirming the debuts of Isaac Kako and Jaxon Prior.
