The success of Essendon’s Members Forum could see the event become a permanent fixture on the Bombers calendar. 

Around 1,200 members gathered at Etihad Stadium to listen to and ask questions about the direction of the Club.

“This was an opportunity to firstly hear from the members,” CEO Xavier Campbell said.

“It’s a unique platform, it’s the inaugural member forum and hopefully something we do more consistently on an annual basis.” 

Campbell along with Chairman Paul Little, new Coach John Worsfold and Bombers legend Kevin Sheedy made presentations throughout the night and responded to questions from the fans.

Campbell said the fan experience on match day was one of the key themes to emerge.

“Not owning your own stadium and having your own traditional home ground does create some issues that we need to keep working on and trying to improve for our fans,” he said. 

“There is a lot of hope about 2016 and beyond.

“Our fans are incredibly resilient and passionate.  I was really proud to hold the event and to hear the feedback and the positivity in the members voice.”

Little addressing around 1,200 members last night.

Marcus Holdsworth has been an Essendon member for 23 years.

He said he’s happy with the direction the Club is heading.

“I’m very excited by John’s (Worsfold) vision for the future,” he said. 

“Xavier and the rest of the guys presented really well.  

“I was fairly positive about tonight.”            

Terry Burke has been following the Bombers since the 1940’s.

He said it was important members had a chance to be heard.

“I think it was a really important event, it had been promised and it was opportune that we had it because there are so many issues that have happened to the Club at various stages over the last couple of years,” he said.

“To have this chance to come together and for people to say what they thought about it, to say what their hopes were, to say what their grouches were – I think that’s important.”