But Sheedy added he would now supportScott,who was officially confirmed as coach on Thursday night.
Essendon players look on during Brad Scott’s first press conference as coach on Friday.Credit:Getty Images
Barham hailed Scott’s arrival as “one of the most exciting days in this football club’s history”,as Scott said he was “humbled and privileged” to be selected by the Bombers.
Barham said the appointment was a new beginning for the club and a “renewal” on and off the field. The process was led by a selection committee including AFL great Robert Walls and former Hawthorn champion Jordan Lewis.
“We’re looking forward positively and looking forward with enthusiasm to the years ahead,” he said.
“This is a real chance for renewal at this football club … this is about resetting the culture and this football club for the long term. So,it’s not so much about next year,for me,this is about how do we reset this club for sustained long-term success.
Kevin Sheedy has spoken out after the appointment of Brad Scott as Essendon coach.Credit:Getty Images
“We want to reset back to our core business,which is footy.”
When asked why Sheedy had not been part of the coaching selection panel,Barham said:“Sheeds was in the board meeting yesterday when it was all presented,so he had his say ... but it was really important to me that we made independent decisions and really thorough and rigorous independent decisions. So that’s why we went for our coaching selection committee that was totally independent,and they would do all the work and then recommend it to the board. So I think it worked really well.
“We’ll have a fully united board,we have one now … Sheeds has been a great supporter … he will fully support[this],he’ll be right behind Brad and this footy club as he has been for every other coach in the whole time at Essendon.”
Scott has been given a four-year deal with options,leaving his position at the AFL to take up the role. He said his time at AFL House as general manager of football had given him a more “holistic” view of the game that would benefit his coaching.
“The three years of the AFL taught me a lot. I learned that there’s a massive football ecosystem out there,and I think I come back to the role with a much more rounded approach,” said Scott.
Scott said he was going into the role with “eyes wide open” as opposed to when he began his coaching career at North Melbourne,and understood the harder parts of the demanding job.
“In any high-profile,important role there are parts that you love,then parts that are really challenging. But I wouldn’t have committed to submitting myself to this process and going through the process if in my mind,I hadn’t reconciled that this is what I want to do,” said Scott.
“And I’m this time,I’m not an untried,blissfully ignorant,33-year-old. I’ve been in the industry for a long time in various roles and I think I’ve got a pretty good idea of what’s required,but also a good understanding of the challenges involved.”
Scott said he had spent a number of weeks doing his diligence on the Bombers,and entered the process after the grand final because he did not want to compromise his AFL position during the finals series. Barham and Bombers football manager Josh Mahoney both spoke to Scott in recent weeks.
“I’m as excited as I’ve ever been to be back in football,” Scott said.
“There’s been some challenges at Essendon,but there’s a lot they’ve been doing really,really well.
“And that’ll be my first port of call to make sure that we retain all the great things that already existed in this football program,and within this football club.”
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Despite the recent turmoil off the field at Essendon,Scott said he had been impressed in the process of appointing a new coach and that he didn’t need any convincing to take up the position.
“I was impressed from day one. My first initial discussion with Josh Mahoney,and then with Dave,I think there’s a massive opportunity here … but that’s all it is,it’s an opportunity. And then I was keen to take it on.”
Barham echoed the sentiment,saying there was a lot of hard work to be done at the club,starting with Scott’s appointment. The club has not yet appointeda chief executive to replace Xavier Campbell.
“We’re at the stage of actually putting our heads down and working hard. That’s what we’re dealing with and that’s from across the whole club,the board down,all we’re focusing on the moment is hard work,put our heads down,work hard and get everything on track.”