Essendon's performance boss departs amid injury crisis

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Essendon's high performance boss will leave the club following the Bombers' disastrous, prolonged run with injuries.

Sean Murphy will soon finish up in his role when his current contract expires.

He has led the Bombers' high performance team since the start of 2020.

But Murphy's job became virtually untenable due to the dire state of Essendon's injury list this season.

For numerous weeks, Essendon coach Brad Scott has been talking about reviewing and getting to the bottom of why the Bombers continue to have so many players unavailable.

The process is already underway to appoint Murphy's successor and Essendon hope to select someone soon.

"Our high performance and medical team is critical to the success of our football program, and we're committed to undertaking all necessary work required to help us improve in this area," Essendon football boss Daniel McPherson said.

"This decision enables us to take a fresh approach and reshape the team as we prepare for a crucial off-season."

The Bombers had 11 first-choice players missing when they lost to premiership contenders GWS by 48 points on Thursday night.

Essendon equalled the most debutants in a season in the AFL era -- 13 -- when forward Liam McMahon kicked two goals against the Giants.

Sitting 14th with a 6-11 record, Scott has spoken about wanting Essendon to be "a no-excuse football club."

"We'd like to have better availability, but we field 23 fit players every week and we give opportunity to guys who deserve it," Scott said after the defeat to GWS.

"There's challenges within that but what we can demand is effort, intent and the way that we compete and that largely tonight was very good against a very good opposition."

Star Nic Martin could miss most of the 2026 season after rupturing his ACL against Richmond last Saturday.

There are also long-term concerns around the health of emerging but injury-prone defender Zach Reid (hamstring), and classy utility Nik Cox (concussion).