Bombers president David Barham delivers pointed message to players after ‘stinging’ end to 2024

It was another disappointing season that started so brightly at Essendon this year. And president David Barham has delivered a pointed message to his players. Get on board, or else.

Essendon president David Barham has warned the Bombers’ players they won’t have long futures at the club if they are not prepared to fully commit to senior coach Brad Scott’s culture of high performance and excellence.

In saying the time for excuses is over, Barham admitted he was still “stinging” from the “gut-wrenching” second half of the season collapse which saw the Bombers crash out of finals calculations, despite sitting in second place after round 11.

He stressed he was extremely confident in the on and off field transformation across the past two years, which saw Scott become senior coach and Craig Vozzo installed as chief executive.

The Bombers yet again stormed out of the blocks then faded. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

But he conceded that everyone within the club – from the players to the staff to the administration – had to follow the principles of the culture reset with unflinching dedication.

“I can assure you that two years into this new era, we are on track,” Barham said at the club’s best and fairest count on Thursday night.

“It has taken time.

“Everything always takes longer than we would like it to.

“The leaders of this club have embedded – and now demand – a culture of excellence, high performance, a commitment of hard work along with that ruthless desire to win.

“Only those who share our uncompromising vision will get to enjoy the ultimate prize.

“There is no room for excuses. Everyone in the club needs to ask themselves ‘how badly do I want this’ and ‘what can I do to make it happen’.”

He added in a pointed tone to the players: “Brad has brought discipline to this club and has elevated our standards.

“If you don’t prepare properly, don’t give your all on match day, conduct yourself as a professional athlete on and off the field, I don’t think you will be here long.”

Brad Scott enters his third season at Essendon in 2025. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

In a year in which Essendon passed the 20-year mark without winning a final, and with next year marking 25 years since the club’s 2000 flag, Barham said this year’s second-half fade was simply not good enough.

And he urged fans to remain focused on the future instead of the past, despite the challenges late in the season.

“I am optimistic about our future but I am also stinging from the pain of sitting through a finals series and a grand final that didn’t involve our club,” he said.

“Unfortunately the end of our men’s 2024 season was bitterly disappointing for everyone in the room. To win just three of our last 11 (games) and miss the finals was gut wrenching after such a promising start to the year.”

Barham said the AFL was arguably the most even sporting competition in the world, with the Bombers needing to look at the stability and hard work of teams who consistently play in finals, including premiers Brisbane, Geelong and Sydney.

“Clubs who achieve success have a culture of excellence, expectation of high performance, dedication to hard work and a ruthless desire to win … everyone working at these clubs – coaches, players, administration and board (members) have a united commitment to these principles,” he said.

David Barham made his point well known to the players. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

“They have succeeded because they have remained committed to stability and unity of purpose, while working through the challenges of building and developing their clubs.

“Less than two years ago, we launched a new era under Brad Scott and Craig Vozzo. In that time, Brad and Craig have systematically transformed the club, brought in skilled and experienced (people) to boost our existing team to establish the important foundations for us to build sustained success.

“We understand we are in the early phases of this build, but we are up for the magnitude of the work that is required.

“Right now, there are many reasons that make me feel very confident and optimistic (that) the dramatic reforms of the past two years have made us well placed for success.

“(But) if we are not ruthless in pursuit of success, we will not keep up. We will remain mid-table, if not fall lower.”