Essendon confirm addition of ex-Swan and Bomber to board

Essendon have confirmed the appointment of former player Ted Richards to the club's board.

Richards fills the vacancy opened by Dean Solomon's move to the Bombers' coaching ranks, which was announced last month.

Drafted to Essendon in 2000, Richards spent six years with the club before seeking a move to Sydney after 33 career games.

The 42-year-old went on to play 228 matches for the New South Wales side, including the club's 2012 premiership.

Richards claimed All-Australian honours the same year, and announced his retirement at the end of the 2016 season.

He is currently the head of Melbourne at Wilsons Advisory, which was recently acquired by Canaccord, a role that has added to a wide range of business experiences since leaving the AFL. 

"While I love what I'm doing at Canaccord, I still have a deep passion for football, so it's great to get back involved," Richards said.

"I've been really impressed in my discussions with Andrew Welsh and other board members about the path the Club is on. I genuinely believe my experience can help get Essendon back to the top, and that challenge excites me enormously.
Embed from Getty Images

"Essendon means a lot to me. I grew up a passionate Bomber supporter with so many fond memories like attending every finals game in 1993 and watching the premiership with my Dad and older brother. Our family even drove up to Sydney in 1996 to watch the preliminary final, and I was absolutely shattered when Tony Lockett kicked that point after the siren.

"The friendships I formed during my time at Essendon are lifelong. When I got married in 2014, my four groomsmen were all former Essendon teammates which speaks to the bond and what the club means to me.