Essendon president David Barham says Bombers aren’t in a financial position to give away pokies revenue

The Bombers won’t step away from the pokies game anytime soon, with president David Barham saying at the club’s AGM the club was not in a financial position to give up the revenue.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – NewsWire Photos SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2022: Essendon President David Barham, speaks to the media, about newly-appointed senior coach Brad Scott, at the NEC Hangar. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nicki Connolly

Essendon is still not in a position to live without poker machine revenue with president David Barham saying there would be “massive damage” if the club cut off the controversial financial lifeline.

Barham faced questioning about the Bombers pokies interests at the annual general meeting, saying the club was actively searching for alternative sources of income.

Essendon is one of four clubs – alongside Carlton, Richmond and St Kilda – who own gaming venues. The Bombers have two venues – Windy Hill, which has 101 machines, and Melton Country Club, which has 89 machines.

Five AFL clubs have weaned themselves off poker machines over the past four years: Collingwood, Geelong, Hawthorn, Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs.

Essendon President, David Barham says the club can’t step away from the venues. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

“All I can say is this club is not in a financial position at the moment to step away from the venues we have at the moment and the venue revenue we have,” Barham said.

“So the only way we can do this realistically, and I am genuine when I say this, is that this club is actively looking at alternative sources of revenue, that’s the only way we can do it without there being massive damage to the football club.

“I can’t give any cast iron guarantees and I can’t give you any promises that other people have to keep but we are committed to trying to find ways to bring revenue into this footy club to give us choices,”

Barham said there were “two or three projects” in the pipeline to bring in the extra revenue but they were unable to reveal them because of commercial sensitivities.

The launch of Essendon's problem gambling taskforce in 2005: CEO Peter Jackson (Essendon FC), Jason Winderlich (Essendon footballer), Warrick Giddey and David Stiff (basketballers), James Aubusson (Melbourne Storm) and Caitlin Thwaites (Kestrels).

The Bombers last month announced an operating loss of $579,777 for this financial year.

Former Essendon premiership coach Kevin Sheedy and fellow incumbent board member Tim Roberts were re-elected to the two vacant board spots, ahead of challenger Graham Evans who was standing on an anti-poker machine platform.

Evans did receive significant support – 2600 votes compared to Roberts (5422) and Sheedy (5380) – which was noted by Barham as he explained how the club was listening to the members’ concerns around the pokies issue.

It was also announced that former player Dean Rioli had stepped down from the board after just 14 months with his replacement to be announced in the new year.