Under-fire Essendon coach Brad Scott says he's not afraid of being sacked, and has urged fans to stick with the team despite a never-ending rebuild that once again has the Bombers on the bottom of the AFL.
The powerhouse Victorian club has not won a premiership in 25 years, hasn't won a final of any kind in more than 21 years, and is currently on a 15-game losing streak that stretches back to last May.
The Bombers have started season 2026 with massive losses to Hawthorn and Port Adelaide, by 62 and 63 points respectively.
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Scott, who took the reins in 2023, previously coached AFL battlers North Melbourne and says he understands how to get a team out of a rut.
"I've been here before, and I know the way out," he told journalists on Thursday.
"It's not about me. I'm trying to preach a culture of investing in the team at all costs. So, it's not about me.
"Like what will be, will be. I mean, when you're a head coach, it ends at some point. It's just a matter of how and when. Like, we're going to die at some point, too. But you don't spend your whole time thinking about it."
The Bombers have been heavily criticised over the past fortnight for a confusing playing style that most experts are struggling to understand.
But he claims none of his bosses at the club have questioned his coaching methods.
"Your sort of rank-and-file fan just turns up to the footy each week hoping their team's going to win. They don't analyse it. So, that's a challenge," he said.
"Being an Essendon fan the last 25 years has been unbelievably difficult. So, all I can do is assure everyone that I'm extremely optimistic about what we're doing.
"We made really hard, short-term decisions for the medium to long-term. Let's see it through."
Scott was also criticised for his press conference following the heavy round two loss to the Power.
He called his players "selfish" and singled out young gun forward Nate Caddy, who missed an easy goal early in the game which left his teammates downcast.
Scott defended his comments and said his players understood where he was coming from.
"In terms of Nate Caddy and selfishness, I spoke to Nate at half time," Scott said on Thursday.
"I spoke to Nate post game. I spoke to the players post game, and then did a press conference. So they are crystal clear as to what I'm talking about.
"But for everyone else… if you make a mistake, and you get demoralised by it, and more importantly, if the rest of the team get demoralised by it, you're being selfish, because you're thinking about yourself and not the team."
The battling Bombers face the Kangaroos on Saturday in what is a battle between the competition's worst teams.
While things are dire for Essendon, AFL great Jimmy Bartel says the team can start digging itself out of the hole with some simple changes this weekend.
Scott is reluctant to make personnel changes at the selection table but Bartel wants to see the players focus on a couple of small details.
"They are in a world of hurt, I think everyone acknowledges that," Bartel said on Nine's Footy Furnace.
"I think they need to pick something and hang their hat on it. North Melbourne have started to do that.
"Let's just restrict marks, let's start there. Just get pressure on the ball, and you can build off that.
"We want to win tackles this week, which draws you closer to the contest… if that doesn't happen you can force a good loss, which is a slow, high ball which gives your teammates an opportunity, and we're going to start a little bit closer to our opponents.
"Let's just restrict marks, win tackles. I think that's a great starting point, and you will be surprised what energy that sparks in the playing group."
Essendon icon James Hird said he "couldn't agree more".
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