Club Mgmt. Board of Directors as led by President Andrew Wealshy - Ted Richards joins the board

[Phone]

Board of Directors as led by President Andrew Welsh Walsh

 

[yodellinhank]

Darren Walsh

Darren Walsh

Age

40

Ht

186cm

Wt

74kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

6.5

2star

K

3.5

1star

HB

3.0

3star

M

2.0

2star

T

0.0

1star

No current season stats available

D

6.5

2star

K

3.5

2star

HB

3.0

3star

M

2.0

3star

T

0.0

1star

 

[yodellinhank]

If Zac is traded, could he be Andrew Welch?

 

[brutus76]

Still not buying a membership until we win a final. Still happy to sponsor a player

 

[HirdsTheWord]

Still not buying a membership until we win a final. Still happy to sponsor a player

im not doing either.

 

[HirdsTheWord]

Yeah, I don’t mind him in the media but it is a bit weird that he is part of the push for unity despite openly suggesting that Zach consider his options elsewhere (well before the story broke) which would clearly have been at odds with what is best for the club.

Some might say that he needs to pick a side but it is pretty clear he has picked his side a long time ago. I’m happy to remember him as a talented but selfish footballer and poor leader who should not be involved with our football club in any capacity despite his technical ability.

meh double edged sword

he needs to be impartial to a degree to be in the media, no one wants to hear one eyed opinions.

I don't have an issue with him having a bet one way. As long as he doesn't suggest Essendon should be screwed in the process IE take unders just to let zach go..

 

[ghostdog]

Transcript of Welsh's Crichton address:

I think Eddie Maguire once said, A week is a long time in footy. Well, I can tell you this week's felt like a lifetime ago. But I've been blown away by the support I've received from our members, and I was connected to the club since taking on this role.

What has become crystal clear to me through this period, though, is that I'm getting more and more energised by the day. I'm nine days in, but each day I've woken up, more driven, with more energy to push forward, because I can see the opportunity for greatness ahead of us. And that bloody motivates me, and I know it will motivate everyone in this room.

So I'm excited to be leading this club, and look forward to attacking this position with everything I've got, and to represent our members with passion and drive, to bring this club together in achieving what we're here, all here for.

So, tonight, I want to start and take a moment to acknowledge the efforts of the former president, Dave Barham. Dave, I want to thank you as a friend, but more importantly, what you have given this club as president for the last three years, but as a director since 2016. You've always acted in the best interests of the club. You put Essendon first, and you've been selfless in your role. You brought me onto the board, and since that point, I've witnessed firsthand your drive to make the hard decisions required to set this club up for success, and provide strong foundations to build on, which is what you've done.

I want to thank you, your wife, Tash, your two daughters, Mia, and Sophie, and I look forward to seeing you in the black, yeah, back at the footy, next year, where you don't have to wear a suit and tie, which I know will make you happy and Barry behind us with your full passion. Can I have a round of applause for Dave and the family, please?

And I'd also like to see my family, my wife, Kendall, who's here, my three kids, their support since joining the board's been fantastic, and they're very excited to support me on this next journey. So thank you for that support and looking forward to doing this as a family.

As we reflect on our 2025 season, I want to begin with our players from each of our football and wheelchair teams. Thank you for wearing the sash with pride. Whether you're a veteran who guided our young players or a debutante who took your first steps in the red and black, each of you contributed to our story this year.

To Brad Scott and his coaching staff. Thank you for your tireless effort throughout the year. It was undoubtedly a unique year with the challenges we faced. But I reflect on it as a year of growth. I'm genuinely excited about what we've been able to unearth this year and watching the development of everyone who represented our club. While the scoreboard didn't always reflect our efforts, there's no such thing as a wasted season. The character built, the bonds strengthened, and the foundations laid in 2025 will define this football club for years to come. This was a year of growth and growth is never easy, but it's always worth it.

Whilst injuries obviously hurt us this year, we're really proud to announce the appointment of Matthew Innes as our new head of high performance and medical. Matt has already made a strong impact on our players as he begun building relationships and embedding his philosophies. So we're excited about what he'll bring to a club in a very important area for us.

To our award winners who will be up on stage throughout the night, congratulations. You should be proud of your achievements and the recognition from your coaches, teammates, is well deserved.

I'd also like to acknowledge and thank the departing AFL players, you put your bodies on the line for the club, and you'll always be estimate people. Thank you for everything you've done for us.

I would like to actually make a special acknowledgement to Jaden Laverde. His outstanding service to the club and for his life membership tonight. Well done, Jayden.

I'd also like to acknowledge our AFLW team and their coach, Natalie Wood. We got a big game tomorrow against the D's to keep us in contention for the eight. And I look forward to celebrating the season with our players at their best and fairest in December.

To all the staff who represent the club with passion and dedication, led by our CEO, Craig Vozzo, thank you for your efforts this year. I'm looking forward to working closely with your incoming years and excited about what we can achieve together.

Well, fellow directors, it's not an easy job being on the board of an AFL club, and it's not an easy job being on the board of the Essendon Football Club. But seeing firsthand the time and effort you put in to guide our club forward is one you should all be commended for and proud of. At the end of the day, you're all volunteers and do this role to give our club the best chance of sustaining success. So I thank you all for your efforts and the support and guidance you've provided me.

To the Essendon faithful, thank you. We've had over 86,000 members commit to the club this year. I want to thank you for being part of our club and sticking fat when your support is needed the most. This is not lost on anyone in the room, and I love your passion and care you have for the football club.

The final group, I want to particularly highlight tonight, are our club volunteers. When I was playing our volunteers and support staff, we were our heroes. They sacrificed, they made for us, to continue, to give us that very quality that we see today. It's quite incredible what they do for us as players, and what they do for the club, to give us the very best chance of success. We all look to them as an example of how we should be going about our business and respect and acknowledge the effort they put in all the time. These people put in time for the club for little or no financial reward. And we're privileged to have them as a really important part of our fabric.

And I'll finish here.

I want to just finish with a couple of points.

Firstly, I want to be clear about something that will define my presidency, and one of those is connection. Our volunteers embody this brilliantly, but we're doing, but what we're doing to drive connection in the club is in all areas, with our members, and critically, internally, as well. I'm talking about player to player, player to staff, across the whole club. Driving connection and creating a genuine sense of belonging for everyone associated with the bombers. That will be the hallmark of my presidency. It's not just all about words. This needs to be followed up by actions, and wants you to all know that those focus areas and actions have already begun.

So, to finish... I'm all about one Essendon, one club. My message applies to everyone in this room, from our players, coaches, staff, and volunteers, to our members and supporters. This is our time to galvanise. Our foundations are set, and it's time to unite. We win together, we lose together. But we stick together, and we stick together, we're a formidable club. All in, all heart. This is our time. This is our moment, and we're about to embark on our greatest area yet.

So let's get running.

Go Dons.

So, if we believe the contextual insight that Merrett didn't really put much effort into building relationships, then Welsh's speech comes off sounding more like "don't worry, he's not like us."
References Merrett's comment about being 'all in' though.
"But we stick together, and we stick together, we're a formidable club. All in, all heart. This is our time. This is our moment, and we're about to embark on our greatest area yet."

 

[Lore]

So, if we believe the contextual insight that Merrett didn't really put much effort into building relationships, then Welsh's speech comes off sounding more like "don't worry, he's not like us."
References Merrett's comment about being 'all in' though.
"But we stick together, and we stick together, we're a formidable club. All in, all heart. This is our time. This is our moment, and we're about to embark on our greatest area yet."

The president spoke first, and is rallying the past players and coteries, asking for unity

 

[Doss]

If Zac is traded, could he be Andrew Welch?

 

[dank420_]

If Zac is traded, could he be Andrew Welch?

Not many good posts occur after 2am, but this is one of them.

 

[ydc55]

Please question the Draper compensation.
We do not need rara about pulling in one direction.
We actually have to make the AFL accountable.

 

[Yoda_]

ant555 can you make it simple as to why Welsh was at the combine ? We currently have no head of footy or something?

 

[ant555]

ant555 can you make it simple as to why Welsh was at the combine ? We currently have no head of footy or something?

He is currently the boards director of football. That was his role before Barham resigned and Welsh took over as president There has not been a replacement lined up yet. People presumed it would be Solly but he lives in Northern NSW right now and the role needs someone in and around the club all the time. It is generally an ex player. Wellman previously had the role. The role is simply sitting in on a lot of the football meetings and stuff like attending the combine and being the boards football representative.

 

[ant555]

Article in todays HS. Covers a few things including him meeting with those who where planning the board spill and telling them to get into line as he was not interested in joining their little political faction. Surprised it did not make the media given Welsh described the meeting as getting a little robust and blunt a few times and he paid for the next tables meals as an apology for the disturbance.
Also backed Vozzo and the clubs stance on the drug discussion with the playing group saying it was their role/responsibility to keep educating the players and it is what the players family's would expect.
Little bit of other fluff stuff.

 

[MarkJohnson#1]

Enjoyed that article and the direction Wealshy wants to take us. The positive for me is that he is more in touch with modern reality and has a better read on the damage inflicted by the drugs saga and the toll it has taken on the club and people involved. With Solly by his side I think they could form a good partnership at board level.

Loved how he called out Zaka too. There's a reason why he wasn't part of the 400+ former player email and never really solidified any leadership roles as a player.

 

[Zach Package]

Im liking the fact he’s not a million years old

 

[Petrify]

Full unpaywalled article here

The bit about telling the board challenge people to **** off is great.

https://archive.is/PLfJy#selection-1857.0-1873.270

 

[Vander18]

Was not optimistic re Welsh but so far, so good.

Can feel his passion, it’s pretty visceral. That’s not all we need but it’s the required starting point to change things. He HATES what we have become on the field in a way I haven’t felt from previous leaders.

 

[bommer16]

I feel Ess has been passive for years since that terrible saga.
Enjoyed reading the bit about not looking back.
Very, very good read I feel hopeful. Well done Welshy.

 

[Yoda_]

Under rated was that the property tycoon did not reference Lord Voldemort once (Dodoro)

 

[thebigboy]

Was not optimistic re Welsh but so far, so good.

Can feel his passion, it’s pretty visceral. That’s not all we need but it’s the required starting point to change things. He HATES what we have become on the field in a way I haven’t felt from previous leaders.

Spot on. If anything, there was either a blind ignorance to what we’d become, or an indifference from Xavier Campbell, Paul Brasher, and Lindsay Tanner etc.

Will be interesting to see who comes onto the board with Barham going off. Likely will be a football appointment to fill the football director role with Soloman living interstate

 

[Lore]

Someone put it on twatter

 

[cobra land]

Also mentions that he meets with Hirdy and a bunch of other past players regularly and the question of Hird coaching never gets brought up.

That will please windyhill and a few others

 

[ant555]

Spot on. If anything, there was either a blind ignorance to what we’d become, or an indifference from Xavier Campbell, Paul Brasher, and Lindsay Tanner etc.

Will be interesting to see who comes onto the board with Barham going off. Likely will be a football appointment to fill the football director role with Soloman living interstate

Bit harsh on Brasher. He was the one who went public with the we have become soft line.
His downfall was backing Truck as the guy.

 

[ghostdog]

Full unpaywalled article here

The bit about telling the board challenge people to **** off is great.

https://archive.is/PLfJy#selection-1857.0-1873.270

Thanks for doing that. It is appreciated.