Essendon board results: President David Barham survives, Dean Solomon elected

The Essendon members have sent a seven-year board member packing, with a past premiership player to take their place. See the full voting breakdown here.

Essendon have announced their board results. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nicki Connolly

Former premiership hero Dean Solomon has been overwhelmingly voted onto the Essendon board with current president David Barham also re-elected for another term.

Solomon claimed the most votes in the election (7459) with Barham (5560) clearly the second pick ahead of another former player Paul Weston (3829).

Given there were only two vacancies, the big loser in the election was current board member Melissa Verner Green (3016) who has been forced to stand down after seven years of service.

Solomon was a fan favourite during the club’s golden era which included the 2000 premiership with his hardness and physicality endearing him to coach Kevin Sheedy.

Dean Solomon has been voted onto Essendon’s board. Picture: Phil Hillyard

The defender played 158 games for the Bombers before finishing his 209-game career at Fremantle. He then moved into coaching and has been an assistant at the Dockers, Gold Coast Suns and GWS Giants.

Away from football, Solomon has undertaken successful business ventures including as the Founder and Director of SALT Movement and Recovery, a fitness and wellness facility with two locations in East Melbourne and Kingscliff.

Barham, a highly respected sports broadcast executive, has been on the board since 2015 and was elected president in 2022. His biggest statement in the job was the appointment of Brad Scott as senior coach.

“I would like to first thank all the candidates for putting their names forward and participating in the process to join the Board. As a member-based Club, your engagement and input is vital,” Barham said.

“I want to personally thank our members for their support and the faith they have shown in re-electing me to the Board for my final three-year term.

“I would also like to specifically acknowledge Melissa Verner Green for her outstanding contribution to the Board over the past seven years. She is a true Essendon person who dedicated significant time and effort to her role.

David Barham has been re-elected. Picture: Getty Images

“We are pleased to welcome Dean Solomon to the Board. Dean brings a broad skill set, not only as an AFL Premiership player and coach but also through his successful business career, having founded and built multiple business ventures.

“Dean’s strong values align perfectly with our vision, and we are excited to have him join the Board as a director.

“This re-election is a clear sign from our members that they want the club to continue focusing on stability, unity, and alignment, as we strive to deliver on our plan to bring sustained on-field success back to Essendon.”

A proposed resolution initiated by the No Pokies at Essendon group was also put to a members vote but failed with just 36.2 per cent voting in favour - well below the required majority of 75 per cent.

A club statement regarding the pokies situation said: “As the club has previously stated, the club will continue to operate its hospitality venues to the highest standard and is strictly accountable to the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission, as well as other Government agencies for the safe operation of these venues.”