John Worsfold is aiming to lead a new era at the Essendon Football Club.

The incoming Coach spoke passionately at Monday night’s Annual General Meeting about his desire to see Essendon return to being one of the most inclusive, successful and respected sporting club's in Australia.

Since joining the Club in early October, Worsfold has set the tone on what he expects from the players on and off the field in terms of their professionalism.

“What I stand for is elite standards, and that goes across the board,” Worsfold said.

“It’s not just in preparing to be a great football team on the field, it’s about being part of a great football club.

“I take huge responsibility in developing our footballers as young men as part of our Club, but also as part of our community.

“I see that as one of my key responsibilities.

“We provide a huge amount of resources for (the players) to achieve their individual, personal goals as sportsman, and in turn for that, we ask them to commit to help the Essendon Football Club in becoming a great football club.”

Worsfold is adamant the current playing list has what it takes to become a successful team in the near future.

However, the Coach did not shy away from the difficulties faced by the players over the last few years, believing it now becomes important to reignite their passion in the game.

Worsfold said the addition of a number of players over the trade and draft period, a fresh coaching panel and a new sense of hope – the team are starting to once again find joy in playing the game.

“The Essendon Football Club has an unbelievable and strong history and that is never going away,” Worsfold said.

“What our current playing group is now talking about is regenerating that enthusiasm and that passion and that success as we go forward.

“We’re not rebuilding a Club that already has unbelievably strong foundations.

“We just want to stoke that fire that we know burns in all of our members and all our supporters, and get the Club back to where we want it to be.”