Essendon Chairman, Lindsay Tanner, believes the Club has never been more united to rise to the challenges which await in 2018. 

While buoyed by a positive increase in membership, match receipts, and a finals appearance, Tanner said the Club must raise the bar again next season.

Tanner said there was much to be learned from the past two premiers.

“We took a number of positive steps forward on and off the field, and we now have a solid foundation to build from next year and into the future,” Tanner said.

“The Western Bulldogs and Richmond are proof that anything is possible if you are prepared to do the work, lift your standards, forge strong alignment and drive even greater accountability across our entire Club.”

Tanner also declared the Club must work hard to find efficiencies on and off the field if it hopes to improve to content come finals.

“As we have seen in recent years, the competition is full of opportunity, and we need to challenge ourselves to find improvement to match it with the best in the competition. And, most importantly, in finals football when it matters most.”

“We must challenge ourselves to find this improvement if we want to achieve our vision of being the most inclusive, successful and respected sporting organisation in Australia.

“For everyone, the hard work has only just started. But, as a Club, we have never been more unified or as strong to rise to the challenge that awaits us.”