Why Watson is holding out hope for Essendon's future

Essendon's restructure at the top is taking shape ahead of 2026, with the club officially elevating Vice President of the Board Tim Roberts into the role of Chief Executive Officer.

After an extensive search to fill the role, the club - led by President Andrew Welsh - settled on an internal candidate, selecting the long-term Board member to lead the club into the future.

A business veteran, Roberts appears an appropriate and educated decision, particularly given the glowing reviews received internally.

And while Bomber legend Tim Watson has instilled faith in the club's decision, he remains aware that Roberts was not the priority candidate for the vacant role.

“If they are in those positions, and they are trying to get the best people that they possibly can to lead the football club and be a coach, you would hope that all of the exhaustive work that’s being done,” Watson told SEN Breakfast.

“In terms of, trying to go out there and find the best candidate, and they’ve come back and measured those best candidates against the best people that they’ve had there at the football club, and they’ve made their choice.

“You’ve got to trust those people that are in those positions and making those decisions.

“I don’t know whether they said that Tim Roberts was their number one choice, because having spoken to people, I don’t believe he was their number one choice.

“I know they went out there – it was an exhaustive search that they conducted. I don’t know Tim – he’s been around the football club for a long time, and he’s been on the board for a long time.

“The feedback that I’ve had in the last 24 hours is that he’s straight up and down, a very good communicator, good people person, team building type business guy.”

Watson - a three-time Premiership Bomber - is holding out hope that the former powerhouse can return to their historical peak in the near future, despite their horrific and ongoing drought.

Shifting captaincy to former No.1 Pick Andy McGrath, drafting three top talents in Sullivan Robey, Jacob Farrow and Dyson Sharp all while continuing to develop their young stars, Watson remains hopeful that the club's unofficial rebuild will lead to results in the near future.

“We’re all hopeful that we’re on the right track. Everybody is on board and hopeful,” he said.

“There has been a reset – without the club going out and saying they’re having a major rebuild, there is a major reset that has taken place.

“They have gone to the draft, they had a good hand, went after a particular type and style of kid, a personality along with the talent, they needed some competitive type beasts.

“Of all the research that I’ve done, the people that I’ve spoken to – they nailed it. Those first three picks, they absolutely nailed.

“So now, we have to wait and see how they develop.”

Essendon's pre-season fixture kicks off at The Hangar, taking on Richmond in an unofficial practice match on the 20th of February.