Essendon sacks football boss Dan Richardson after season from hell

Essendon has sacked its top football boss just days from the start of the AFL Trade Period following a nightmare player exodus.

The wheels are falling off at the Bombers.

Essendon has sacked football department boss Dan Richardson just days from the start of the 2020 AFL Trade Period.

The club’s miserable season — where it failed to play finals footy — has been turned into a full-blown nightmare following the decisions of Joe Daniher, Adam Saad and Orazio Fantasia to walk out on the club.

Richardson, who has served as Essendon’s top football boss for three seasons, has paid the price for the failure, ruthlessly axed on Thursday.

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Richardson was shown the door as the first casualty of the football department review being led by new Essendon president Paul Brasher.

His departure comes in a tumultuous time for the Bombers following the exit of senior coach John Worsfold and the rise of assistant coach Ben Rutten to take over the top job following a long-term coaching succession plan.

Despite Rutten’s new tenure, the club has not been able to hold onto some of its biggest-name stars — leading to serious questions about the club’s culture and future.

Good luck, Truck.

The Bombers face a defining few weeks this Trade Period with the club also expected to be loaded up with two picks inside the top ten at this year’s draft — on the back of an expected No. 7 pick as free agency compensation for Daniher’s move to the Brisbane Lions.

Former Bombers star Brendon Goddard, who was managed by Richardson during his career, said Essendon’s problems appear to run deeper than Richardson.

“Little bit surprise, I ask the question if he is the biggest problem? They’re in position to make change, Paul Brasher the review has started, and he’s got his first victim,” Goddard said on AFL Trade Radio.

“Dan is a good friend of mine and he was my manager.

“I didn’t get to see him enough as a footy manager, as a friend I can be a bit blinded as to whether he was a problem or good at his job. Hard for me to say anything.

“I just question if he is part of the problem, not the problem.”