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Dean Solomon
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Dean Solomon
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Dean Solomon (born 9 January 1980) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Essendon Football Club and the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Solomon served as caretaker senior coach with the Gold Coast Football Club for the last 3 games of the 2017 season, following the departure of senior coach Rodney Eade on 7 August 2017.[1]

Key Information

Early career

[edit]

Solomon grew up in the small mining town of Broken Hill excelling in basketball, cricket and football though it is the latter in which he held the most promise.

Playing for the North Broken Hill Football Club, a team with which his family has a long history he received several honours as a junior, along with several junior premierships, however as a 16-year-old he was awarded "best junior" when playing for the league or A-grade team against many large, hard men who would often attempt to physically intimidate him.

Solomon played his last game for North Broken Hill in 1996, unfortunately injuring his fingers and missing a grand final.

Solomon then went on to play for the Bendigo Pioneers in the under 18 TAC Cup competition. He was selected in the 1997 AFL draft by Essendon with a 2nd round selection, number 20 overall.

Playing career

[edit]

Essendon

[edit]

Solomon made his AFL debut in 1998 for Essendon and was part of their 2000 premiership team.[2] Solomon played a total of 158 games and kicked a total of 56 goals for Essendon Football Club from 1998 until 2006.[3]

Fremantle

[edit]

On 13 October 2006, Solomon was traded to Fremantle, following a trade of draft picks No. 42 and No. 47, Fremantle also gained pick No. 52 from the Bombers. He links up with close friend, forward Chris Tarrant who was traded to the Dockers on the same day from Collingwood.[4]

In 2008, Solomon was reported for elbowing Cameron Ling to the head which resulted in broken cheekbones and eye socket.[5] Solomon received an 8-week suspension, the most severe AFL tribunal penalty in 11 years.[6]

On 18 February 2010, Solomon announced his retirement from AFL football due to a painful degenerative knee injury.[7] Solomon played a total of 51 games and kicked 22 goals for Fremantle from 2007 until 2009.[3][2]

Coaching career

[edit]

Fremantle

[edit]

Solomon was an assistant coach with Fremantle in the 2010 season under senior coach Mark Harvey. However after one season, Solomon departed the Fremantle Football Club at the end of the 2010 season on 4 August 2010.[8][9][10]

Gold Coast Suns

[edit]

He joined Gold Coast Suns as an assistant coach in the months before they entered the AFL for the 2011 season.[11]

During the 2017 season, Solomon was appointed caretaker senior coach of Gold Coast Suns, with three matches left to go after Rodney Eade stepped down as Gold Coast Suns senior coach, during the 2017 season, when Eade was told he would not be receiving a contract extension with Gold Coast Suns.[12][13] The Suns under Solomon went on to lose all three games for the rest of the 2017 season.[1][14][15] Solomon was not retained as Gold Coast Suns senior coach at the conclusion of the 2017 season and was replaced by Stuart Dew as Gold Coast Suns senior coach. Solomon however remained at the club as assistant coach.[16]

After nine years of service as an assistant coach, Solomon was sacked at the end of the 2020 season.[17][18][19] Upon his departure from the club, and on the advice of Adam Simpson, Solomon decided to take a 12 month sabbatical from the AFL in a bid to further develop himself with an eye on returning to coaching in 2022; during this sabbatical he ran a gym in Kingscliff, New South Wales.[20][21][22]

Greater Western Sydney

[edit]

On 17 May 2022, it was announced that Solomon would be joining the coaching staff at Greater Western Sydney as part-time assistant coach for the rest of the 2022 season under GWS caretaker senior coach and his former teammate Mark McVeigh, who replaced Leon Cameron after Cameron resigned as GWS senior coach in the middle of the 2022 season after Round 9, 2022.[23][24][25] Solomon left GWS Giants at the end of the 2022 season.[26]

Tweed Coast Football Club

[edit]

On 9 November 2022, Solomon was appointed senior coach of Tweed Coast Football Club, a club that competes in the Queensland Football Association Division 2 South.[27]

Playing statistics

[edit]
[28]
Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game)
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
1998 Essendon 7 7 2 1 38 25 63 12 13 0.3 0.1 5.4 3.6 9.0 1.7 1.9
1999 Essendon 7 19 4 4 139 105 244 61 39 0.2 0.2 7.3 5.5 12.8 3.2 2.1
2000 Essendon 7 25 8 7 196 136 332 115 43 0.3 0.3 7.8 5.4 13.3 4.6 1.7
2001 Essendon 7 24 8 5 208 119 327 101 55 0.3 0.2 8.7 5.0 13.6 4.2 2.3
2002 Essendon 7 0 — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
2003 Essendon 7 24 11 20 243 105 348 103 86 0.5 0.8 10.1 4.4 14.5 4.3 3.6
2004 Essendon 7 23 15 17 245 154 399 79 88 0.7 0.7 10.7 6.7 17.3 3.4 3.8
2005 Essendon 7 16 4 5 130 62 192 65 45 0.3 0.3 8.1 3.9 12.0 4.1 2.8
2006 Essendon 7 20 4 3 146 97 243 72 48 0.2 0.2 7.3 4.9 12.2 3.6 2.4
2007 Fremantle 6 20 11 10 196 120 316 77 108 0.6 0.5 9.8 6.0 15.8 3.9 5.4
2008 Fremantle 6 13 7 7 149 71 220 70 36 0.5 0.5 11.5 5.5 16.9 5.4 2.8
2009 Fremantle 6 18 4 6 144 125 269 60 87 0.2 0.3 8.0 6.9 14.9 3.3 4.8
Career 209 78 85 1834 1119 2953 815 648 0.4 0.4 8.8 5.4 14.1 3.9 3.1

Tribunal history

[edit]
Season Round Charge category (level) Victim Result Verdict Ref(s)
2004 11 Melee involvement — Guilty (accepted fine) $4,500 fine [29]
2005 18 Melee involvement — Guilty (accepted fine) $2,400 fine [30]
2006 8 Charging (3) Ben Cousins (West Coast) Not guilty (won at tribunal) — [31]
2007 PS-QF Striking (1) Brent Harvey (Kangaroos) Guilty (early plea) Reprimand [32]
6 Misconduct (3) Jason Roe (Brisbane Lions) Guilty (lost at tribunal) 1 match suspension [33]
21 Wrestling Brad Miller (Melbourne) Guilty (accepted fine) $900 fine [33]
2008 1 Rough conduct (1) Shane Wakelin (Collingwood) Guilty (lost at tribunal) 2 matches suspension [34]
8 Wrestling Tom Williams (Western Bulldogs) Guilty (accepted fine) $1,800 fine [34]
15 Striking (6) Cameron Ling (Geelong) Guilty (direct to tribunal) 8 matches suspension [34]
Key:

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Dean Solomon

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Dean Solomon (born 9 January 1980) is an Australian rules football coach and former professional player, best known for his tenure as a premiership-winning midfielder and defender with the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Drafted by Essendon with the 20th pick in the 1997 AFL National Draft from the Bendigo Pioneers, Solomon made his debut in 1998 at age 18 and went on to play 158 games for the club through 2006, including a key role in their 2000 premiership victory. Traded to Fremantle at the end of 2006, he added 51 games over three seasons before retiring in 2010 due to a chronic knee injury, bringing his total AFL career to 209 matches and 78 goals. Raised in Broken Hill, New South Wales, where he honed his skills playing for the North Broken Hill Football Club—winning junior premierships and a best junior award at age 16—Solomon initially balanced football with basketball and cricket before committing fully to the sport. Transitioning to coaching immediately after retirement, he served as an assistant at Fremantle in 2010, then with the Gold Coast Suns from 2011 to 2019—where he acted as caretaker senior coach in 2017—and part-time with the Greater Western Sydney Giants in 2022. In a distinctive career pivot, Solomon joined Essendon's board of directors in recent years, contributing to club governance, before resigning in October 2025 to return to the Bombers as an assistant coach under senior coach Brad Scott, focusing on the backline and team defense for the 2025 season.

Background

Early life

Dean Solomon was born on 9 January 1980 in , , . He grew up in the remote mining town of , where he was exposed to a variety of sports from a young age. Solomon participated in , , and , demonstrating talent across these disciplines, though football emerged as his strongest pursuit. Solomon affiliated with the local North Broken Hill Football Club during his early years, where he won several junior premierships and, at age 16, earned the best junior award while playing in league and A-grade teams against South Broken Hill. He played in regional competitions that shaped his development. At the outset of his career, he measured 189 cm in height and 102 kg in weight, physical traits that supported his versatile playing style.

Junior career

Solomon's junior football career began to accelerate after relocating from his multi-sport background in Broken Hill to join the Bendigo Pioneers in the TAC Cup under-18 competition, where he developed under an AFL scholarship program. Prior to his time with the Pioneers, Solomon represented the NSW/ACT Rams in the inaugural AFL National Under-18 Championships in 1997, earning All-Australian selection for his performances alongside future AFL star . His size, pace, and versatility as a were highlighted during these national junior competitions, marking him as a standout prospect from . Solomon's strong showings in both state representative and TAC Cup levels culminated in his selection by Essendon with pick 20 in the 1997 AFL National Draft, directly from the Pioneers. This draft pick reflected his rapid rise through underage pathways, positioning him for a professional career.

Playing career

Essendon Football Club

Dean Solomon was drafted by Essendon with the 20th pick in the 1997 AFL National Draft from the Bendigo Pioneers. He made his AFL debut in the 1998 Anzac Day match against Collingwood and went on to play 158 games for the club, kicking 56 goals, primarily as a tough midfielder and defender known for his physicality and contested ball-winning ability. Solomon was nominated for the award in his debut season and won Essendon's Most Courageous Player award in 1999 and 2001. He played a key role in Essendon's 2000 premiership victory, contributing to the team's dominant defence, and later finished third in the club's count in 2004. That year, he also represented in the . At the end of the 2006 season, Solomon was traded to in exchange for draft picks 42 and 47.

Fremantle Football Club

At the end of the 2006 AFL season, Dean Solomon was traded from Essendon to Fremantle in exchange for draft picks 42 and 47, allowing the Dockers to bolster their midfield with his experience as a versatile and physical player. Solomon quickly adapted to Fremantle's playing style, contributing as a tough-nosed utility who used his power and contested ball-winning ability to support the team's midfield rotation, despite weighing over 100 kg and standing at 189 cm. Over three seasons from 2007 to 2009, he played 51 games and kicked 22 goals, providing leadership and intensity in a side that was rebuilding under coach Mark Harvey. His time at was marred by recurring injuries, culminating in a major degenerative knee condition that forced his retirement. On 18 February 2010, Solomon announced his delisting and end to his AFL career, having played a total of 209 games and kicked 78 goals across both clubs.

Career statistics and records

Playing statistics

Dean Solomon's AFL career spanned from 1998 to 2009, during which he played a total of 209 games and kicked 78 goals across Essendon and . His career aggregates also include 2,953 disposals, 1,834 kicks, 1,119 handballs, 815 marks, and 648 tackles. This equates to an average of approximately 14.1 disposals per game. The following table provides a season-by-season breakdown of his key playing statistics, sourced from official AFL records. (Note: He played no games in 2002 due to injury.)
YearTeamGamesGoalsKicksHandballsDisposalsMarksTackles
1998Essendon723825631213
1999Essendon1941391052446139
2000Essendon25819613633211543
2001Essendon24820811932710155
2002Essendon0000000
2003Essendon241124310534810386
2004Essendon23152451543997988
2005Essendon164130621926545
2006Essendon204146972437248
2007201119612031677108
2008137149712207036
20091841441252696087
Career Totals: 209 games, 78 goals, 1,834 kicks, 1,119 handballs, 2,953 disposals, 815 marks, 648 tackles.

Tribunal history

During his AFL career, Dean Solomon faced several tribunal appearances, primarily between 2004 and 2008, resulting in fines and suspensions that led to him missing a total of 17 matches across 191 games played as of mid-2008, with no further suspensions thereafter. In June 2004, while playing for Essendon, Solomon was fined $4,500 for during a brawl in a match against Hawthorn, part of a record total of $70,700 in fines handed out by the for that incident involving multiple players. In May 2006, while still with Essendon, Solomon was charged with a one-match suspension for charging West Coast's during a game but was cleared after Essendon successfully contested the charge at the . Solomon's disciplinary issues continued after his trade to at the end of 2006. The following year, in May 2007, Solomon was banned for two matches after being found guilty of reckless conduct for kneeing Brisbane's Jason Roe in the head, a charge he challenged but lost, citing an accidental nature to the incident. These penalties, combined with prior demerit points, contributed to his growing poor record, with three matches suspended in the three years leading up to 2008. In 2008, Solomon encountered further tribunal action twice. Early in the season, on March 25, he was suspended for two matches for rough conduct against an opponent, a penalty increased by 10% due to his existing record. Later, in July, he pleaded guilty to striking Geelong's with a high to the head during a match at Skilled Stadium, resulting in an eight-week ban—the longest suspension in 11 years at that time—and Ling suffering a depressed cheekbone . This incident alone accounted for half of Fremantle's total 16 weeks of team suspensions that season. The cumulative effect of these sanctions significantly impacted Solomon's career, forcing absences that disrupted team lineups for both Essendon and during key periods and limiting his overall games played to 209 despite his talent as a hard-running . His tribunal history, marked by 32.81 carried-over demerit points by mid-2008, underscored a reputation for aggressive play that occasionally crossed into reportable offenses.

Coaching career

Fremantle Dockers

Following his retirement from playing in February 2010, Dean Solomon transitioned immediately into and was appointed as an assistant coach with the Fremantle Dockers for the . In this role, he served as a development coach within Fremantle's Elite Performance Program, with responsibilities centered on player development throughout the season. Solomon's tenure at Fremantle proved brief, lasting only until early August 2010. On 3 August 2010, he informed the club's playing group and coaching staff of his departure to pursue an assistant coaching position with the , effective from October that year.

Gold Coast Suns

Dean Solomon joined the as an assistant coach in 2011, ahead of the club's inaugural AFL season, marking the beginning of a ten-year tenure in various coaching capacities. During this period, he contributed to the development of the club's young playing group, with a particular emphasis on midfield coaching and mentoring emerging talents to build versatility and intensity in the engine room. His work focused on fostering physical and tactical growth among players like , helping to establish a competitive midfield core suited to the Suns' expansion-phase needs. In August 2017, following the mid-season departure of senior coach , Solomon was appointed caretaker senior coach for the remaining three games of the season. Under his leadership, the Suns recorded a 0–3 result, including losses to , the , and Collingwood, as the team prioritized simplified messaging and physical contesting amid a challenging campaign. was subsequently appointed as the full-time senior coach for 2018, with Solomon returning to his assistant role. Solomon continued as a key assistant through 2020, supporting Dew's regime while maintaining his involvement in player development. However, at the end of the 2020 season, he was among 14 staff members released by the Suns as part of cost-cutting measures under the AFL's soft cap, despite having two years remaining on his contract. The decision drew criticism from AFL figures, who highlighted Solomon's contributions to the club's long-term growth, though Suns officials denied any interpersonal conflicts and attributed the move to financial restructuring.

Greater Western Sydney Giants

On 17 May 2022, Dean Solomon was appointed as a part-time assistant coach for the . He joined the coaching panel alongside fellow Essendon premiership player to support interim senior coach , with Solomon remaining based in northern . Solomon's engagement lasted through the remainder of the , providing additional expertise during a transitional period for the club following the mid-season coaching change.

Tweed Coast Football Club

On 9 November 2022, Dean Solomon was appointed as the senior coach of the Tweed Coast Tigers, a community-level club competing in the Queensland Football Association (QFA) Division 2 South. In this role at the non-AFL club based in Cabarita Beach, New South Wales, Solomon's responsibilities centered on grassroots development, including building player numbers, fostering junior pathways, and instilling professional standards in a volunteer-driven environment. He emphasized youth retention and squad dynamics, working alongside assistant coaches to create an exciting, competitive team culture amid challenges like inconsistent player availability. Solomon coached the Tigers through the 2023 to 2025 seasons, overseeing a period of gradual improvement from a winless 2023 campaign—marked by struggles with attendance and form—to a resurgence in 2024, where the team secured a fifth-place finish on the ladder and qualified for the finals series. His tenure concluded after the 2025 season as he transitioned from the role.

Essendon Football Club

In December 2024, Dean Solomon was elected to the board for a three-year term, receiving the highest number of votes among candidates during the club's on 18 December. He officially joined the board in February 2025, bringing his extensive AFL experience to contribute to strategic decisions at the club where he had previously played as a 2000 premiership winner. On 23 October 2025, Solomon resigned from his board position after less than a year to transition into a coaching role, becoming Essendon's assistant coach focused on defensive strategies under senior coach Brad Scott. This move marked a rare shift from governance to on-field involvement, allowing him to apply his insights directly to player development and team performance. The transition required Solomon to relocate from his home in Kingscliff, northern , to , a decision he made after weighing family and professional considerations. His motivation stemmed from a desire to contribute more tangibly to Essendon's success on the field, building on his board tenure and recent senior coaching experience at a local club in , rather than remaining in an oversight capacity.

References

  1. https://essendonfcpastplayers.com.au/past-player-profiles/listing/solomon-dean/
  2. https://www.visitbrokenhill.com/Discover/Heroes-Larrikins-Visionaries-Trail/Sporting/Dean-Solomon
  3. https://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/1919392/solomon-to-join-bombers-coaching-ranks
  4. https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/teams/essendon-bombers/only-essendon-bombers-board-member-steps-down-to-join-coaching-staff-in-unique-move/news-story/951a0ca606fa41bd5782af189186d1f8
  5. https://www.sportspanda.com.au/afl/coaches/gold-coast-suns/dean-solomon
  6. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-25/afl-200-gamer-returns-to-home-club-for-final-match/100318786
  7. https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/D/Dean_Solomon.html
  8. https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-fremantle-dockers--dean-solomon
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  10. https://www.goldcoastfc.com.au/news/33429/dean-solomon-and-rodney-eade-pivotal-in-mays-leadership-development
  11. https://bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/4843722/another-first-for-solomon/
  12. https://thewest.com.au/news/wa/wisdom-on-solomon-ng-ya-247798
  13. https://www.afl.com.au/news/535203/dean-solomon-departs-fremantle
  14. https://thewest.com.au/sport/afl/analysis-solomon-a-man-for-all-seasons-ng-ya-221339
  15. https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/game-over-for-docker-solomon-20100218-oe6g.html
  16. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-02-20/afls-solomon-calls-it-quits/336468
  17. https://www.afl.com.au/news/70106/freo-accepts-solomons-eight
  18. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2004-06-09/record-fines-for-afl-brawlers/1990266
  19. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2006-05-22/review-panel-charges-nine-after-weekends-games/1759922
  20. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2007-05-08/trio-found-guilty-at-afl-tribunal/2543090
  21. https://www.afl.com.au/news/69184/solomon-out-for-8-weeks-crowley-cleared
  22. https://www.afl.com.au/news/45856/solomon-out-for-two-weeks-howat-three
  23. https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/teams/hawks-the-worst-tribunal-offenders/news-story/b3804124bf1b007134cdef7faceed2cb
  24. https://www.afl.com.au/news/469828/solomons-case-straight-to-tribunal
  25. https://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/1713142/dean-solomon
  26. https://www.goldcoastfc.com.au/news/18115/dean-solomon-joins-gold-coast-suns
  27. https://www.sen.com.au/news/2023/12/04/dean-solomons-three-wishes-for-gold-coast-in-2024
  28. https://www.espn.com/afl/story/_/id/22551321/bowes-presses-case-suns-afl-call-up
  29. https://www.afl.com.au/news/80704/swans-our-blueprint-solomon
  30. https://www.goldcoastfc.com.au/news/292230/dean-solomon-appointed-interim-coach
  31. https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/gold-coast-sack-coach-rodney-eade-dean-solomon-steps-in-as-interim-coach-20170808-gxreha.html
  32. https://afltables.com/afl/stats/coaches/Dean_Solomon.html
  33. https://www.footyalmanac.com.au/almanac-footy-team-of-caretaker-coaches-who-never-got-a-full-time-job/
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  35. https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/afl-2020-gold-coast-suns-deny-dean-solomon-conspiracy-after-sacking/news-story/e2718795542b6ccda07711b46d4bcb06
  36. https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2020-gold-coast-suns-job-cuts-dean-solomon-stewart-dew-dean-solomon-afl-job-cuts/news-story/356280a60970c4b89492d6c47c4cac9e
  37. https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/news/gold-coast-suns-slammed-for-sacking-assistant-coach-dean-solomon-wasting-money/news-story/3c7d35b1c19b760af9c6342d1630b920
  38. https://www.gwsgiants.com.au/news/1129401/solomon-and-hird-to-bolster-giants
  39. https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/sport/afl/dean-solomon-set-to-return-to-the-afl-world/news-story/349a678ce5fb1a16e8ecab1f196fac4f
  40. https://www.aflq.com.au/tweed-coast-tigers-senior-assistant-coach-to-dean-solomon-reserves-coach-womens-coach/
  41. https://timesnewsgroup.com.au/byroncoasttimes/sport/tweed-coast-tigers-focus-on-youth-and-retention-for-2024-season/
  42. https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/gold-coast/tweed-coast-tigers-afl-winless-streak-comes-to-an-end-after-almost-three-years/news-story/c5bc55ab3c7a9a61d87b9b38a365606c
  43. https://bond.edu.au/sport/sport-news/news/bull-sharks-determined-to-keep-canal-a-fortress
  44. https://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/1705287/2024-election-of-essendon-directors-announcement
  45. https://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/1706364/solomon-excited-by-board-opportunity
  46. https://www.essendonfc.com.au/video/1713396/solomon-joins-the-efc-board?videoId=1713396&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1738818443001
  47. https://www.afl.com.au/news/1444761/flag-essendon-bombers-dean-solomon-relinquishes-board-position-to-take-up-coaching-role
  48. https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/afl-flag-hero-dean-solomon-quits-essendon-board-to-take-up-assistant-coaching-role-c-20448600
  49. https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/new-essendon-president-andrew-welsh-faces-reelection-as-dean-solomon-exits-board-for-coaching/news-story/11a9a6c50f8b583367aa1f1f6e46796b
  50. https://www.sen.com.au/news/2025/10/23/essendon-coaching-dean-solomon-assistant-coach
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