BREAKING: Mark McVeigh ‘in box seat’ to be named Essendon coach in coming days

Mark McVeigh is in the box seat to be Essendon’s next coach.

The former Bombers star will reportedly present to the club’s board on Monday in a huge sign he’s on the brink of being appointed senior coach.

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He appears to have won the race ahead of former Essendon captain and coach James Hird, Fremantle assistant Jaymie Graham and Adelaide’s Murray Davis, with an announcement expected on Monday or Tuesday.

Ken Hinkley presented to the Tasmania board just before he was confirmed as their inaugural coach making McVeigh’s appointment appear imminent.

McVeigh, 45, played 232 games at the Bombers and was one of the ‘Essendon 34’ suspended for using illegal supplements during the 2012 season.

He then became an assistant coach working at the Giants, including a period as their interim senior coach working with James Hird and Dean Solomon, before moving to the Swans where he currently serves as defensive assistant coach.

While Hird had enormous support from a section of the Essendon fanbase, his role in the supplements saga and lengthy period out of the game meant McVeigh has been viewed as the favourite to replace Brad Scott for several weeks.

It was reported last week McVeigh could leave the Swans immediately to play a role in end-of-season list management decisions.

“That’s one thing this football club’s done well for a long period of time (which) is be ready for the unexpected or if something does arise,” Sydney coach Dean Cox said last week about the potential of losing McVeigh.

“And we’ve had those meetings; discussions. We’re really clear on what will happen if he was or wasn’t to get the position.”

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