Jackson's sentiments were made clear at the Crichton Medal on Wednesday night. His full speech is below.
""I would like to start by congratulating South Melbourne FC Sydney Swans for the Premiership win. I thought this victory was most deserving in the sense they showed what a great team can achieve, despite the challenges of travel, the quality of individual opposition players confronting them and the incredibly hard fought contests and tight results over recent weeks. It is a testament to the players in particular, and coaches as well, their strength of mind and character, they are good examples of what can be achieved in AFL football.
How do we judge 2005 for the Essendon Football Club?
The supporters probably feel we ended the year on a positive note, and have a strong sense of expectation for 2006. That is not surprising given the deeds of the younger players over the last six or seven rounds of the season. Supporters will certainly feel good about the future based on performances from young players like Stanton, Bradley, Laycock, Lovett, Lovett-Murray, Dyson, Slattery, Cartledge, Watson, Monfries & Winderlich.
They will also expect to see better seasons from players who were restricted in 2005 due to injury, such as McPhee, Solomon, Rioli, Rama & Lloyd.
And on the back of solid performances in 2005 of the Johnson's, Hille, Fletcher, Peverill, Welsh and McVeigh and the decision by James Hird to play on again in 2006, I guess supporters have a very good reason to hold high expectations for 2006.
But of course there are no guarantees and it certainly won't happen just because it's a new year.
You see, we had similar expectations about this year. I stood in this very spot six months ago in March at the Chaiman's Season Launch and talked about similar opportunity.
I mentioned that the football pundits were predicting our demise, but that with the talent we have at the club, we have the capacity to prove those pundits wrong, but that it would be up to the players to determine the club's fate for 2005.
I asked some players in particular what they saw as their legacy to EFC and AFL football, and whether they wanted to be remembered as talented players or successful players.
I said we would stand here in six months time at the Crichton medal and judge what has been achieved.
Unfortunately the pundits were correct.
In my view, we can only judge, 2005 to be disappointing. Yes, we saw some exciting young players toward the end of the season. Yes, the entire team played with good competitive spirit in those last few rounds, showing the football public and our supporters we can be competitive.
But overall we must judge 2005 to be disappointing. We expected to do better.
The most disappointing thing is that too many players didn't answer the challenge of what their legacy to EFC and AFL football will be. Too many players with the talent to play at this level failed to utilise that talent to secure their future in this competition. As a result, we will see changes to the playing list for 2006.
The end of the season showed clearly we have the talent to be a force again and soon. However, whether we are to have a successful year in 2006 is going to depend on the attitude and work ethic of everyone at the club - players, coaches, football support staff, administration, me.
With the Swans win on Saturday, it now means only two Victorian clubs have won premierships since 1996 - North Melbourne and Essendon. Only three Victorian clubs have won since 1992. In 14 years since and including 1992 only three Victorian clubs have won premierships.
We might take some satisfaction in knowing we are one of those clubs and having won two premierships.
But we haven't been in the top four since 2001 and that is now five completed seasons without being in the top four. That's too long for this club.
The evidence is there - other clubs have clearly gone past us - we can no longer claim to be the best club on or off the field in the AFL competition.
We do have the people in the club to reinstate us to that position in the next year or so. But it is going to take a lot of hard work and the right attitude for us to do so.
There is no room for anyone at this club, players, coaches or staff, who have the talent but not the attitude to demand we be the best club in the competition.
South Melbourne FC Sydney Swans provided us a great lead. We would do well to recognise that we are very close to them in talent, as evidenced by two close losses in 2005, but they perhaps have that x-factor that got them where they are. With the talent we know we have at this club, we can climb back up the ladder very quickly. It's all going to depend on how badly we want to.
James Hird has made two very important decisions this year - one to play on in 2006, and the second to stand down as captain. Neither decision would have been taken lightly. But both decisions reflect his commitment to this club and decisions he thinks are in the best interests of the club.
The whole club and football public welcomed James' decision to play on in 2006.
In making that decision, I'm sure it was in James' mind that he can make a positive contribution to the team's performance in 2006, otherwise he would not have decided to play on. And I'm sure he can not only make a positive contribution on the field himself but also make a major contribution to the development of younger players on the list.
James also made a decision to stand down as captain to let Matthew Lloyd take on the role and the challenge. This decision was initiated by James. His view is that it is in the interests of the club to develop Matthew as a leader now, with James' support, as Gary O'Donnell did with James, rather than James continue on as captain for another year. This is an incredibly selfless decision that reflects James' commitment to this club.
2006 will be an opportunity for this club to recognise and celebrate a person judged by his peers to be the greatest living player in the history of EFC - James Hird. What a wonderful opportunity for this club and its members and supporters.
A quote from the master of football commentators, Dennis Commetti, says it all ""James Hird might not be in a class of his own but it certainly doesn't take long to call the roll. He is a football aristocrat I'd gladly pay to watch.""
James, your career is not ending, but I want to thank you anyway for the very substantial contribution you have made this football club and wish you all the best for 2006.
I take this opportunity also to wish Matthew Lloyd all the best in his role as captain for 2006.
Secondly, I would like to pay credit to Robert Shaw.
As everyone knows, Robert wants to take his career on a new direction away from coaching into football administration. To this end, he has been completing his masters of business in sports management at Deakin University to add to his Bachelor of Applied Science.
Shaw is a household name in AFL football generally. Robert has already carved out a reputation for himself having been a senior coach at both Fitzroy and Adelaide and assistant coach at EFC this time since 1999. He was an integral part of the success of the team since that time.
It takes a lot of courage to make a life decision later in life to change the direction of your career, and then actually take action to do so.
But Robert has displayed that courage with aplomb. He had developed for himself a unique skills set in AFL football that will benefit both him and a club that has the sense to appoint him to a senior role in football.
Robert, thanks for your service to EFC, for your intellectual contribution as well, and for your wit. I might be one of the few who understand it, and I do appreciate it. We wish you all the best in your future career.""
