Paul Cousins and Catherine Lio, who both have a background in digital media, were announced on Thursday as the successful candidates ahead of Monday's annual general meeting.

 

Cousins received 1582 votes, while Lio (1398) beat candidate Ron Gauci by 18 votes.

 

Nine candidates ran at this year's election.

 

The pair will replace outgoing directors Kevin Egan, who did not seek re-election, and Jo-Anne Albert, who finished fourth in the votes and lost her seat.

 

Cousins said he would bring a "fresh set of eyes" to the Essendon board, while Lio, who is currently working and living in Sydney, said she hoped to bring a "youthful outlook" to the future direction of the club.

 

Both threw their support behind Hird, Little and the current Essendon board.

 

"There have obviously been some difficulties but on the whole, the board and particularly Paul have handled it really well," Cousins told BombersTV.

 

"James has been put under a lot of pressure by the media but I think he's handled it terrifically well. I really support Paul and the board and of course James. "

 

"I think the board has done a fabulous job over the past two years," Lio said.

 

"It has been an unprecedented time for the club and something that nobody else has ever gone through. I think Paul Little and all the board members have done a fabulous job driving the club forward."

 

Little said the board's newest members would bring a fresh set of skills and experience to the club.

 

"I'm confident they will be able to make a valuable contribution to building a stronger and more successful Essendon."

 

The election comes as the club's supplements scandal is about to roll into a third year.

 

The AFL Anti-doping Tribunal will begin on Monday with 34 past and present Essendon players fighting the charge that they took the banned substance Thymosin beta-4.