Season 2000 is shaping as the most exciting season in the history of Essendon Football Club both on and off the ground.

Off the ground the club is shifting seven of its home games to Colonial Stadium - a state-of-the-art complex that will take the viewing of football to a new level.

On the ground Essendon has shown the ultimate goal is well within its reach and its chances will only be boosted next year by the addition of three "new recruits" - James Hird, Peter Berbakov and Scott Lucas. All three missed the majority of 1999 because of injury.

So it is a great time to be a part of Essendon Football Club and it appears supporters are well aware of it.

The person charged with co-ordinating the club's membership drive is Essendon Football Club Membership Manager Bernadette Dargan.

It has been a hectic few months for membership team and Dargan expects it will only get busier in the coming weeks.

"With all the media hype surrounding the development of Colonial Stadium, the membership division has been inundated with enquiries from both exisiting and prospective members as to how they can secure access to Colonial Stadium for our home games in 2000," Dargan said.

"Generally the enquiries have been directed towards seating and in particular the purchase of annual reserved seats.

"We currently have approximately 8,500 annual reserved seat holders and I expect this number will increase to over 14,000 next season."

The club has put together a number of different packages designed to suit a variety of different needs.

"Regardless of whether supporters can attend the football regularly or not, we have developed a range of packages that can be purchsed in conjunction with a match day package or separately," Dargan said.

"Following the enormous success of the Mosquito Fleet and Women's Network, we have spent a lot of time analysing various segments of our supporter base with a view to creating packages that best reflect their requirements whilst also providing a greater level of involvement with the club."

Dargan emphasised that membership was the most cost-effective way to support Essendon Football Club and a method of support that ensured the financial viability of the club.

"There are substantial savings when you purchase a membership," Dargan said.

"For example, an adult 11 package is $113.00 and the actual value of that package is $215. That means there is a saving of $102 on every Adult 11 membership package."

The club is aiming at getting 35,000 members for the 2000 season and with the club's bright future both on and off the ground it appears an achieveable target.

For specific membership information go to our membership page. All prices quoted are GST inclusive.