AFL news: Essendon’s review confirms findings agreed to by club’s previous board

Essendon has already lost a significant number of key personnel, but, once the full review is released, who else may not survive?

Ben Rutten, coach of the Bombers.

The two new positions Essendon trumpeted as early outcomes from the club’s exhaustive external review had been agreed to months ago by the club’s previous board.

The Herald Sun can reveal former chairman Paul Brasher’s internal review had determined in August that the Bombers needed to create a head of development and general manager of performance to bolster their failing football department.

Brasher’s review was backed by former chief executive Xavier Campbell and current football boss Josh Mahoney, who authored the document.

The former administration settled on the exact job titles that new president David Barham announced in his letter to members on Tuesday, after Barham received the draft report of Ernst and Young’s external review.

Essendon has not yet released the full findings of its external review, but more changes are certain.

Adrian Dodoro’s future has been the subject of speculation.

The club has already lost Brasher, senior coach Ben Rutten, chief executives Campbell and Andrew Thorburn and board members Sean Wellman, Simon Madden and Peter Allen since round 22.

There has been speculation about the future of list boss Adrian Dodoro, although he has a busy month ahead with the Bombers holding picks No.4 and 22 in the national draft.

Staff at Tullamarine are expected to learn next week how the raft of recommendations from EY will impact them.

But the first two critical changes to emerge from the external review are not new at all, with Essendon sources confirming the head of development and high performance positions had long been in the works.

Mahoney has been pushing for a senior figure to support him and the senior coach to strengthen alignment in the football department. That was originally designed to support Rutten in the final year of his contract.

Brasher’s review recommended the club retain Rutten, but when Barham ousted Brasher he sacked Rutten and commissioned the external review because he was unhappy with the findings from the club’s second internal report in less than two years.

Greg Swann is believed to be the leading candidate to be Essendon’s next CEO.

In addition to the two new roles that had already been agreed to under Brasher, Barham announced that Travis Cloke and Michael Hurley would serve as development coaches and the club would further invest in its women‘s and VFL programs.

Mahoney said Ernst and Young conducted about 80 interviews as it investigated the Bombers, who have not won a final since 2004.

Industry rates for consultancy firms such as EY are at least $500 per hour and the total bill for the Bombers is expected to cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

EY was also asked to take part in the recruitment process for Essendon‘s new chief executive, which backfired spectacularly when Thorburn resigned after one day last week.

Thorburn was also involved in the external review and said he hoped it would lead to “great change” at Tullamarine.

The Bombers are likely to target an experienced football person, such as a David Noble, for the newly-created high performance role.

That will be an external appointment. The head of development could be internal or external however an outsider is considered most likely to win that role.

Brisbane Lions boss Greg Swann is understood to be the No.1 candidate to replace Thorburn — and Campbell — as Essendon‘s new boss.

FIRST FINDIGS FROM DONS’ REVIEW REVEALED

Jay Clark

Essendon will bolster its player development and performance departments under new coach Brad Scott as part of the club’s review recommendations.

News Corp can reveal the Bombers will create two positions in the football department to head the performance and development programs to help beef-up and reinvigorate Scott’s off-field team.

The new general manager of performance will work closely with Scott and football boss Josh Mahoney to focus on “aligning and driving” standards and operations for the players and coaches.

The new head of development will take charge of helping maximising the club’s young players’ abilities as part of plans to fast-track the growth of its recent top draft picks.

The pair of football department appointments are two main findings in the review which was designed to address Essendon’s key on and-field failings after 18 years without a finals win.

President David Barham’s board has received the final draft report of the review recommendations which was completed by Ernst & Young and former chief executive Andrew Thorburn following extensive interviews of key people at the club.

Essendon president David Barham. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

Barham said the board was determined to take action and give Scott and Essendon’s players more support and unity across the football department to deliver on the field.

Barham said the club would begin its search immediately for the GM performance position and labelled the development program as a crucial focus for the club.

“This (head of development) is a critical role that requires a laser-like focus,” Barham said.

“We have a young and exciting playing list and must ensure we have the league’s best development programs to ensure our players thrive and reach their full potential.”

Barham said in a letter to members more details about other recommendations would be released shortly.

“Our club is in the middle of significant change. Change that had to happen,” Barham said.

“Change that required an external review to ensure we had an industry-leading approach to analyse our football club as a total organisation.

“The Board now has the final draft report from the EY External Review that we commissioned.

“This review provides an important foundation for the work ahead. We need to reset and rebuild the club’s operations to create a culture of high performance that everyone who is part of the Essendon Football Club family – staff, players, coaches, administrators, members, and fans – can be proud of.”

Football manager Mahoney completed an internal review late-season but Barham’s board sacked Rutten and implemented the external review as part of a more aggressive shake-up.

Barham said it was time to act, and was thrilled with the early feedback from players about Scott’s impact across his first week in the job.

“The appointment of Brad Scott as senior coach of the men’s team is the first major demonstration of that change,” Barham said.

Ben Rutten was sacked by the Bombers at the end of the season. Picture: Getty Images

“I can already report that Brad is making a significant difference and I want to commend him for the way he and football manager Josh Mahoney are reinvigorating our football department.”

Essendon’s board faces a possible board challenge but Bombers’ great Mathew Lloyd said it would not be a good outcome for the club at this time.

The club is also on the hunt for a new chief executive.

Barham said the board was committed to delivering for the members, supporters, players, staff and community.

Brisbane chief executive Greg Swann is considered the frontrunner for the CEO job for his extensive football experience.

“The search for our new CEO is progressing with the assistance of a highly regarded executive search recruitment company, to ensure we unearth the highest calibre talent for this key role,” Barham said.

“It is important that we give the review the necessary time, consideration, and commitment to build a sustainable action plan and focus on the future.

“We will continue to provide feedback on the outcomes of the review and look forward to sharing more in the coming weeks, including the announcement of our CEO.

“Rest assured that the Board and I are 100 per cent united and committed to making the necessary changes and seeing them through, so we can all look forward to Essendon returning to what we want it to be - a thriving football club.”

Andrew Thorburn completed the Essendon review.

In particular, the Bombers want to make sure their wave of top-end youngsters fully achieve their on-field potential to help drive Essendon’s climb up the ladder over the next few years.

It will be a key focus for Scott who has already made it clear he wants the players to return in top shape for the start of the pre-season after a disappointing start to last season killed-off their finals hopes by mid-season.

Essendon was not able to get the best out of pick six Aaron Francis (who will start a new chapter at Sydney Swans next year) and unsuccessfully tried to turn him into a forward over the past two years under Rutten.

But the club wants to improve the program to fast-track the development of young guns Archie Perkins, Zach Reid, Nik Cox, Harry Jones, Ben Hobbs, Jye Caldwell and Sam Draper.

The Bombers will also take another elite junior talent at pick four in this year’s draft as well as incoming father-son prospects Alwyn and Jayden Davey.

There is also considerable scope for some of the club’s highest-paid stars to improve their output after slow starts to the season from Dylan Shiel and Darcy Parish (equal ninth in the best and fairest).

Andrew McGrath (12th), Jake Stringer (14th), Draper (15th) and Caldwell (18th) also finished outside the top-10 of the club champion award.

Watch every match of the AFLW Season LIVE on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

Originally published as AFL news: Essendon’s review confirms findings agreed to by club’s previous board