‘Change that had to happen’: Essendon’s review highlights need for unified culture

The need to build a “unified internal culture” is among the four key themes that emerged from Essendon’s external review, of which the club has received the final draft report from Ernst & Young.

In an open letter to members and supporters on the Bombers’ website on Tuesday afternoon, president David Barham acknowledged the club “is in the middle of significant change” - describing the upheaval at Tullamarine as “change that had to happen”.

Essendon president David Barham has said he will be bold and courageous in the hope of restoring the Bombers as a power.Credit: Getty Images

After a season in which Essendon languished in 15th on the ladder and parted ways with senior coach Ben Rutten in just his second season at the helm, Barham said the club needs 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, fans and partners – can be proud of”.

The four key themes that emerged from the external review are:

• Restoring Essendon’s purpose as a club.
• Resetting the club’s focus on three key pillars - its members, its players, and its community.
• Building a unified internal culture.
• Backing its people and its operations through strong governance.

“The external review represents an exciting opportunity and one that everyone who loves the red and black can and should embrace,” Barham said.

“The appointment of Brad Scott as senior coach of the men’s team is the first major demonstration of that change. I can already report that Brad is making a significant difference and I want to commend him for the way he and general manager – football, Josh Mahoney are reinvigorating our football department.”

The Bombers are yet to appoint a new CEO, following the shock resignation of Andrew Thorburn, and the external review recommends the newly created position of general manager of performance, which will report directly to Mahoney and will be responsible for aligning and driving “performance functions across the football department”.

Former Collingwood premiership player Travis Cloke and recently retired Bombers favourite Michael Hurley have recently been appointed as development coaches, and Essendon have also announced the creation of another new position, head of development.

The club also announced further investment in its women’s football program, and that it will be adding additional coaches to its VFL outfit.

Barham said Essendon’s search for a new CEO is “progressing with the assistance of a highly regarded executive search recruitment company” but didn’t go into further specifics.

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

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

The report is now being prepared in its final state for a presentation to the board. A summary of the report will be presented to Essendon members in the coming weeks.

Former Essendon president Paul Little declined to comment last Friday on whether he would back a challenge to the incumbent Essendon board after he expressed his disappointment in the club’s recent problems.

In August, then Essendon chief executive Xavier Campbell resigned and four board members - club great Simon Madden, former president Paul Brasher, Peter Allen, and premiership player Sean Wellman - announced they would depart the club following a difference of opinion with Barham over Rutten’s exit from the club.

Last month, club legend and board member Kevin Sheedy said he had voted for James Hird to return as coach, rather than for Scott’s appointment.

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