JOHN Worsfold has implored Essendon to "enjoy the expectations" placed upon it next year as the Bombers aim to finally break their finals drought.
Essendon hasn't won a final since 2004 – the longest streak of any club in the AFL – but after a strong finish to last season, and the arrival of Greater Western Sydney jet Dylan Shiel in the midfield, there are high hopes for what the Bombers can achieve next year.
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The Bombers coach addressed fans at the club's annual general meeting and member forum on Monday night, saying they were prepared for the scrutiny.
"We've built a really strong squad now, so I understand there's a lot of expectation of us as a team to have a really successful year [in 2019]," Worsfold said.
"[And] absolutely, that's what we're working our backsides off to make sure not only 2019, but 2020 and beyond, are very successful years for this footy club and in that period somewhere that we're gunning for our next premiership.
"There's expectation on every footy club that I've ever coached every year – whether we'd finished last the year before or won the premiership the year before.
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"What's exciting is when the expectation is that you think your squad's good enough to be in the finals and playing really good footy.
"I want the expectation to be that we're good enough to shape the finals and have a real crack at it. So, enjoy the expectations of raising the bar and really being excited about what we're trying to achieve. Only time will now tell what we can actually achieve in the immediate upcoming season."
In other news at the club's AGM at Marvel Stadium, Bombers chairman Lindsay Tanner threw his support behind Essendon's plan to drop titles 'chairman' and 'deputy chairman' in favour of more gender-neutral options.
The Bombers have put the move to a vote, after chief executive Xavier Campbell wrote to members saying the club had undertaken a review that showed "amendments" were needed to its constitution for a "more contemporary approach".
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The modifications to the constitution required more than 75 per cent of voters to be in favour of the change.
"We are one of only two Melbourne clubs that have a 'chairman' and as well as the important need to ensure that there is no gender implication that it be male or female holding the position, there's another issue that to me means a great deal," Tanner said.
"Companies have chairmen. Clubs have presidents. It is vital that we don't lose sight of the fact that we are a member-owned and member-accountable organisation. We're not a company owned for profit by shareholders.
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"I'm very strongly committed to this particular change."
Tanner was re-elected for a further three years at the club, through to the end of 2021. Finance director Paul Brasher was also re-elected to his position.
Meanwhile, the Bombers also officially inducted current players Michael Hurley and Dyson Heppell and the recently retired Brendon Goddard as life members.
It was also announced at the AGM that the Bombers plan to start the development of their Tullamarine base next year and for the expansion to be completed by 2021 to match up with the club's 150th-year celebration.
