| Club: | Essendon Football Club |
| Season: | 2013 |
| President: | David Evans Paul Little |
| Coach: | James Hird (3rd season) |
| Captain: | Jobe Watson (4th season) |
| Home Ground: | Docklands Stadium |
| Preseason Comp: | Pre-season competition |
| Regularseason Comp: | AFL season |
| Regularseason Result: | 9th |
| Finals Series: | Finals Series |
| Finals Result: | Disqualified |
| Club B&Amp;F: | Best and Fairest |
| Best And Fairest: | Brendon Goddard |
| Leading Goalscorer: | Stewart Crameri (30) |
| Highest Attendance: | 93,373 vs. (Round 5) |
| Lowest Attendance: | 30,143 vs. (Round 6) |
| Average Attendance: | 46,412 |
| Club Membership: | 56,314 (8,606 / +6.54%) |
| Prevseason: | 2012 |
| Nextseason: | 2014 |
The 2013 Essendon Football Club season is the club's 115th season in the Australian Football League (AFL).
This season also represents the first time since 2002 that the club will independently compete with a reserves team in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
See main article: Essendon Football Club supplements controversy. On 5 February the Essendon Football Club asked Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) to investigate the concerns over the clubs possible use of un-approved supplements during the 2012 season.[1]
An Independent review conducted by Ziggy Switkowski regarding the Essendon Football Club governance processes was released to the public on 6 May.[2]
CEO Ian Robson hands in his resignation on 23 May.[3] He is replaced by former Tatts Group CEO and Essendon board member Ray Gunston as the interim CEO.[4]
Chairman David Evans resigns citing health issues on 27 July.[5] Former Toll Holdings Managing Director and Essendon board member Paul Little is elected to replace him as the new Essendon Chairman.[6]
On 27 August, the AFL charged the Essendon Football Club with breaking "Rule 1.6 - engaging in conduct that is unbecoming or likely to prejudice the interests or reputation of the Australian Football League or to bring the game of football into disrepute". There have been no player sanctions from ASADA, whose investigation is still ongoing.[7]
The following charges were handed down against club and personnel:
In
| = Free Agent |
Out
See main article: 2012 AFL Draft. National Draft
| Round | Pick | Name | From | League | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | TAC Cup | |||
| 2 | 34 | TAC Cup | |||
| 3 | 51 | VFL | |||
| 3 | 53 | TAC Cup | |||
| 4 | 73 | WAFL | |||
| 5 | 88 | TAC Cup | |||
| 6 | 101 | Pass | |||
| 6 | 106 | Rookie promotion | |||
| = Father–son selection |
| Seasons | Player | |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Mark McVeigh | |
| 9 | Ricky Dyson | |
| 8 | Henry Slattery | |
| 7 | Sam Lonergan | |
| 6 | Kyle Reimers | |
| 4 | Brent Prismall | |
| 2 | Michael Ross | |
| 2 | Anthony Long | |
| 2 | Ariel Steinberg | |
| 1 | Brendan Lee |
| = Retired |
The three teams in each pool play each other in games of two 20 minute halves, with all three games being played over a three-hour period at the one venue.
| |
| |
Bye
| Player | Round | Charge category (Level) | Verdict | Points | Result | Victim | Club | Ref(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paddy Ryder | 3 | Rough Conduct (4) | Guilty (Early Plea) | 368.25 | 3 Weeks | Luke McPharlin | Fremantle | [8] | |
| Nick Kommer | 3 | Rough Conduct (3) | Guilty (Early Plea) | 243.75 | 2 Weeks | Kepler Bradley | Fremantle | ||
| Tom Bellchambers | 4 | Engaging in a Melee | Guilty (Early Plea) | 0 | $2100 | St Kilda | [9] | ||
| Michael Hibberd | 4 | Engaging in a Melee | Guilty (Early Plea) | 0 | $2100 | St Kilda | |||
| Jake Carlisle | 4 | Engaging in a Melee | Guilty (Early Plea) | 0 | $2100 | St Kilda | |||
| Leroy Jetta | 10 | Rough Conduct (1) | Guilty (Early Plea) | 93.75 | Reprimand | Ben McGlynn | Sydney | [10] | |
| Jake Carlisle | 18 | Striking (2) | Guilty (Early Plea) | 93.75 | Reprimand | Lance Franklin | Hawthorn | [11] | |
| Jake Melksham | 18 | Rough Conduct (1) | Guilty (Early Plea) | 93.75 | Reprimand | Jarryd Roughead | Hawthorn | ||
| Nick Kommer | 18 | Abusive Language | Guilty (Early Plea) | 0 | $1950 | Michael Palm | Umpire |
| Round | Opponent | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 51,153 | ||
| 5 | 93,373 | ||
| 6 | 30,143 | ||
| 8 | 33,915 | ||
| 11 | 82,639 | ||
| 12 | 31,452 | ||
| 15 | 40,817 | ||
| 18 | 49,505 | ||
| 20 | 32,595 | ||
| 21 | 34,102 | ||
| 23 | 60,979 | ||
| Total Attendance | 510,530 | ||
| Average Attendance | 46,412 | ||
| = Ineligible due to suspension |
| Votes | Player | |
|---|---|---|
| 431 | Brendon Goddard | |
| 382 | Jobe Watson | |
| 336 | Dyson Heppell | |
| 321 | Michael Hibberd | |
| 294 | Jake Melksham | |
| 241 | Jake Carlisle | |
| 229 | Brent Stanton | |
| 211 | Heath Hocking | |
| 207 | Cale Hooker | |
| 191 | David Zaharakis |
| Award Name | Player | |
|---|---|---|
| Bruce Heymanson Best Clubman | Dyson Heppell | |
| Matthew Lloyd Senior Leading Goal Kicking | Stewart Crameri | |
| Lindsay Griffiths Rising Star | Jackson Merrett | |
| Most Improved Player | Mark Baguley | |
| Adam Ramanauskas Most Courageous Player | Michael Hibberd | |
| Best Team Player | Kyle Hardingham | |
| Essendon Goal of the Year[13] | TBA | |
| Essendon Mark of the Year[14] | TBA |
| Item | $2013 | $2012 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $63,690,189 | $65,012,247 | $1,322,058 | |
| Membership & Reserved Seating | $10,347,024 | $9,367,066 | $979,958 | |
| Gate Receipts | $637,773 | $726,504 | $88,731 | |
| Marketing Revenue | $16,837,899 | $15,902,153 | $935,746 | |
| Merchandise Revenue | $3,249,850 | $3,226,302 | $23,548 | |
| Football Department Spend | $20,824,236 | $19,200,704 | $1,623,532 | |
| Operating Profit/Loss | -$3,194,755 | $401,429 | $2,793,326 | |
| Total Profit/Loss | $2,148,492 | $12,345,536 | $10,197,044 |