Former Essendon premiership defender Dean Wallis has slammed the current state of the club, calling them AFL “imposters”.
The Bombers are currently enduring a difficult season in John Worsfold’s final year as coach, languishing in 11th spot with six wins from 15 games.
The club has continued its struggles of recent years in 2020 and Wallis, who used to work at the club as a development coach, said it was time someone spoke out about Essendon’s problems.
He called for a “review and investigation” into all aspects of the club, detailing the “lifeless environment” which he believes currently exists at the Bombers.
“If there was an Olympic Games for imposters in the AFL, Essendon would win gold, silver and bronze,” he told the Herald Sun.
“Some people will have a go at me for speaking out like this, but someone needs to stand up. The reality is, I’m just a past player who cares about his club.
“There needs to be a full review and investigation into the ongoings of the past and hopefully there are some passionate Essendon heavy hitters that can rally together to make drastic and necessary changes.
“There was some amazing energy around the place when Hirdy (James Hird) and Bomber (Mark Thompson) came back to the club and if the saga hadn’t happened we could have won a couple of premierships by now.
“But unfortunately, lives have been destroyed.
“The people who I still speak to at the club tell me it’s a lifeless environment today. I’m on the outside now, but they’re telling me it’s lost its soul.
“And unfortunately, those people won’t stand up and say anything because they are scared of losing their jobs - and don’t worry there are plenty of frustrated past players out there too.”
Essendon’s task of finishing the season off well doesn’t get any easier, with a meeting against the ladder-leading Port Adelaide to come on Saturday.