AFL 2025: Essendon Bombers list strategy to focus on youth, talent and culture, CEO Craig Vozzo says
Essendon chief executive Craig Vozzo has explained some of the club’s list strategy, such as the focus on high-end talent and players who are not older than 28 when recruiting from other clubs.
Vozzo also described the Bombers’ specific needs as “hamburger with the lot” – indicating multiple needs – but said they had tried to clearly define what an Essendon player looked like, in both football and cultural terms.
Vozzo, who was hired as a CEO with a long background in football management at West Coast (and a legal background), said the Bombers would prioritise players in the younger age profile and needed high-quality players to support skipper Zach Merrett and a few others.
“We obviously have had a deliberate strategy of refreshing the list, in my time anyway … (20)23 into ’24, those off-seasons we’ve made 20 list changes, which is one of the highest in the competition. We’ve had a real draft focus as well.”
The Essendon boss said the club’s recruiting focus was on “high-end talent that suits specific list needs for us, and the age demographic is important”.
Asked about the approach when they traded in mature players or landed them as free agents, Vozzo said the target was “high-end quality who’s not 28 … in the younger age demographic.”
The Bombers, under their plan, could pursue Port Adelaide superstar Zak Butters – who is the right age – but would not be chasing players who are pushing or past 30 years of age in the upcoming trade period.
The Dons have also made a cultural fit important to their objectives, having worked hard in Brad Scott’s time to improve what had been a team that had inadequate standards in training and professionalism.
They are considered certain to be on the hunt for West Coast’s Harley Reid should he become available for trade at the end of 2025, or at the end of 2026 when Reid is out of contract.
“We’ve tried to define very clearly what we’d like Essendon players to look like as a starting point, coming into the club, as players but also culturally as well,” Vozzo said.
“We’ve tried to be really specific with what our list needs are, and then try to hit those marks with our recruiting, whether that’s lateral or through the draft. You don’t always get it right, but that’s the strategy.”
Vozzo said they needed “higher-end talent to support Zach [Merrett] and a few of the other boys within the group and maybe laterally.”
Asked about their specific needs, he quipped: “hamburger with the lot. Yeah, there’s lots of different aspects you want to get better at.
“And you’ve got some kids that we’ve got a lot of – not hope – confidence in.”
Essendon is in a strong position to pursue players from rival clubs this year and next with significant room in their salary cap and an excellent draft hand of two first-round picks and two second-round picks – the Dons having Melbourne’s first choice as well as their own.
He said leadership, culture and development were the primary objectives in building a team at Essendon.
“We’ve made 20 list changes in the past two years, we’ve got one of the youngest squads in the comp and that’s not to create an excuse.
“I’m still very excited about the growth we can get out of our 21-to-27 year olds and that’s our focus … the organic growth we get out of those guys is critical to any timeframe to ultimate success and sustained success.”
Vozzo said the path to a premiership took time, citing Damien Hardwick’s premiership in his eighth year as coach at Richmond, and Chris Fagan’s flag in his eighth year at the Lions. At West Coast, the Eagles hoisted the cup in Vozzo’s eighth year.
“It takes time, but I’m not suggesting it takes eight years and we’re part way through that journey … the organic growth we get from our group now is really important.”
The Bombers have found a cornerstone of their future this year in key defender Zach Reid, who has finally overcome injuries to show his enormous ability as a tall intercepting defender.
“It’s so pleasing. I don’t want to jinx him, but he’s done a lot of work over a number of years. He’s getting the reward now with some durability and the performance comes off the back of the durability and the hard work. We’re seeing him grow in front of our eyes I think.”