Essendon’s tumultuous 2020 AFL season has taken another twist after the club sacked football boss Dan Richardson on the eve of the trade period.
New president Paul Brasher promised to hold a brutally honest review of the club following the Bombers’ slide to 13th place this year.
Richardson, who has spent three years in his role and played a major role in luring Ben Rutten from Richmond in 2017, became the first major axing.
Rutten is now the senior coach of Essendon after taking over the reins from John Worsfold.
Earlier this year, Essendon great Matthew Lloyd declared the Bombers had become a laughing stock of the competition, saying the AFL club would continue to wallow in mediocrity until they fronted up to their issues.
It remains to be seen just how brutal Brasher’s review of the club will be, but there’s a growing consensus there will be others who follow Richardson out the door.
Forward Joe Daniher and defender Adam Saad have already informed the Bombers they want out, leaving Rutten with an uphill battle to get Essendon back into finals contention next year.
The Bombers haven’t won a final since 2004, and they produced just one victory in their last 10 matches of the 2020 season.
© AAP
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