Essendon Chairman Lindsay Tanner has paid tribute to the loyalty of the members and says the Club’s recovery is only just getting started.

Tanner was speaking in front of more then 1,000 people at the Bombers best and fairest night, The Crichton Medal.

“To all of our incredible members, thank you, you are the backbone of our club and you should all be very proud of the loyalty and passion you have shown the club and the players this year,” he said.

The Club faced unprecedented challenges in 2016 when, on the eve of the season, 12 players were ruled out for the year.

Tanner praised the response from the players, coaches and supporters throughout the season.

“Our comeback is only just getting started,” he said.

“As the process of healing and recovery continues, we must pursue improvement across all areas of activity, on-field and off-field, and not become prisoners of the challenges.

“There is much to be optimistic about as we slowly return to normality heading into 2017, but nothing is guaranteed. We have shown unbelievable strength and resilience under the most extreme pressure.

“That’s a great platform from which to launch our comeback and assault on 2017 and beyond, but that’s all it is, a platform.

“How successful we are will depend on how we all apply ourselves from now on, not what we have done up until now.”

Tanner said the Board outlined five key priorities following the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling in January.

It wanted to assist and retain the suspended players, ensuring on-field competitiveness in 2016, stabilize the Club’s finances and maintain our heritage and reputation.

“We can all take great heart from the progress we have made in pursuing these objectives,” Tanner said.

“On that awful day in mid-January when the CAS decision was handed down, my message was very simple: ‘We will get through this’.

“We can now take stock at the end of an extraordinary season.

“The recovery process is by no means over, but we have made great progress.”

Tanner said the recovery was made possible by the resolve of the entire Essendon community.

The Bombers were ranked fifth for membership and attendances in 2016 despite winning just three games.

“We haven’t turned on each other.  We’ve turned up to support our team, and still recorded attendance levels and membership among the highest in the competition,” Tanner said.

“At no point have we dropped our heads or asked for quarter. 2016 has been an enormous character test for Essendon Football Club, and we have passed that test with flying colours.”