Essendon is headed for boardroom showdown with premiership hero Paul Weston nominating for a director’s position

‘We are no longer feared, we’re certainly not respected’ – Essendon premiership player Paul Weston has had enough. He tells MARK ROBINSON exclusively about his plan for change.

Essendon is headed for a boardroom showdown two years after its last bloody coup with premiership hero Paul Weston nominating for a director’s position.

Weston, who has savaged the club’s performance, culture and character, joins another premiership favourite Dean Solomon in contending for the board at the club’s December election.

The club greats will contest the two vacant positions alongside Essendon president David Barham and current board member Melissa Verner Green.

It’s understood a fifth candidate has also nominated.

Barham, who is seeking a presidential extension, would be tossed as president if two of Solomon, Weston and Green won the majority of members’ votes.

If that happened, Solomon’s former teammate and current vice-president Andrew Welsh would likely be courted to become president.

Former Essendon premiership player Paul Weston is running for the board. Picture: Ian Currie

Weston, 67, who played in the Bombers’ 1984-85 premierships, is not running a joint ticket with Solomon, but the pair has spoken recently.

Asked if he was challenging the presidency, Weston said: “If I’m standing and he (Barham) is one of the applicants then it is … but I’m not looking to be president.

“My agenda is our culture, leadership and development.

“This is about regaining our identity.

“From the early the 1980s, and in particular in 2000, we were the most respected, feared and admired club in the AFL, we were a destination club, and where are we today?

“We are no longer feared or admired, we’re certainly not respected and we’re no longer a destination club.

“It’s time for change.’’

Weston, who is close to coaching icon Kevin Sheedy, who was punted from Essendon’s board in September, noted that Barham had been on the board since the end of 2015.

“He’s been there for nine years and Melissa Green has been there since 2017,’’ he said. “My commitment is, if I’m appointed to the board, I will be not seeking another term unless we’ve won a final in the three years, because if we haven’t I’ve made no impact at all.

“If I can’t do it in three years I shouldn’t be there.’’

Weston with the premiership cups from 1962 and 1965.

Weston is craving consistency from a team which has fallen away terribly in the second half of each of the past two seasons under coach Brad Scott. The Dons finished 11th in both years.

“All I want to do is go to the footy each weekend and know our team is going to turn up and give their best,’’ Weston said.

“I would suggest very few supporters and members would be able to go to the footy confidently knowing we will bring our best effort.

“At the moment Brad hasn’t been able to turn that around.

“The overriding factor which brings success is the culture and character of the club.

“Look, you can’t get away from the scoreboard. Last year our percentage was 94 per cent, that suggests to me in games we give up.

“That doesn’t mean they stop trying, it just means they are no longer 100 per cent committed to being the best they can be on that day.’’

He argued the board lacked premiership nous.

“There’s no premiership experience on our board or in our coaching staff other than our senior coach,’’ he said.

“To me, a good functioning board has balance. We are a football club, we’ve got excellent people for finance, governance, for business, but we haven’t got any premiership experience.’’

Weston was moved to contend for a board position after he attended a memorial for another Bombers premiership player, Hugh Mitchell, a week ago.

The assembled folk were told by Mitchell’s daughter that two of Mitchell’s qualities were “never give up’’ and “always be consistent’’.

“Those two qualities are basically in every premiership era and culture never changes,’’ Weston said. “It’s all about discipline, resilience, honest communication and accountability and Essendon doesn’t have them.

“This is why I’m running. If I could see change, if I could see improvement, then I’d be backing the current board in, but the scoreboard says otherwise.’’

Bombers coach Brad Scott and president David Barham. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nicki Connolly

Former chief executive Xavier Campbell and former president Paul Brasher. Picture: Michael Klein

Barham was appointed chairman at the end of 2022 after a boardroom battle deposed then president Paul Brasher.

In a traumatic period, chief executive Xavier Campbell quit, three other directors quit, including champions Simon Madden and Sean Wellman, and coach Ben Rutten was sacked a week after the club announced it was pursuing coaching great Alastair Clarkson.

Then in October, 2022, the new chief executive Andrew Thorburn resigned after one day in the job.

In a letter to Essendon members this week, Barham stressed that the work being done on the club’s culture and foundations would pay off in the long run.

“This past year has been another period of significant progress,’’ Barham wrote.

“We’ve achieved many of the goals we set as we continue to build a platform that will bring sustained success in the future.

“We acknowledge there have been some disappointments along the way, but we are excited about the challenges ahead and optimistic that we are building a club our members and supporters can be proud of.’’

Essendon’s annual general meeting will be held on December 18.

Originally published as Essendon is headed for boardroom showdown with premiership hero Paul Weston nominating for a director’s position