Essendon was last named the Australian Domestic Team of the Year at the Australian Sports Industry Awards in Adelaide. The Bombers beat an outstanding field which included the Brisbane Broncos, Melbourne Phoenix and the Perth Wildcats to win the award. Kevin Sheedy was nominated for the Australian Coach of the Year award but that went to Hockeyroos coach Ric Charlesworth.

Essendon chief executive Peter Jackson said it was a great honour for the club to win such an award. ""There is such an array of high quality sporting teams in the country and to be voted the best of those is a great honour for this club,"" Jackson said. ""This whole club worked exceptionally hard to achieve the results of last season and everyone associated with Essendon Football Club should be proud of this achievement."" Essendon is the first AFL side to be recognised at the ASI awards.