Veteran journalist Caroline Wilson reports off-field changes loom at Essendon following the completion of the club’s review amid tensions emerging between list boss Adrian Dodoro and head of football Josh Mahoney.
The Bombers recently completed an in-depth review of their football department — the club’s second in three years — in a bid to address the 2021 finalists’ drop off this season — currently sitting 14th on the ladder with a 7-13 record.
Wilson reports Ben Rutten’s position is safe despite pressure on the senior coach earlier this year in just his second campaign at the helm, however she states there’ll be other moves made to the footy department including uncertainty around Blake Caracella’s position.
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“The review’s been done … there will be changes,” Wilson told Channel 9’s Footy Classified.
“The coach is safe, Ben Rutten will remain, there will be movement beneath Ben Rutten.
“I’m told there are still real problems there, we know (CEO) Xavier Campbell is still under the pump.
“There is some genuine tension between Adrian Dodoro and Josh Mahoney, which is disappointing.
“I’m not sure where Blake Caracella is going to be next year, but he also has a rock solid two years left on a highly paid contract, but he will definitely be in a different role next year if he’s there at all.”
Asked for more context around the strain between Dodoro and Mahoney, Wilson said: “Lack of support for each other.”
Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd revealed he’s heard the club will bolster its coaching staff and support Rutten with another assistant coach for next year.
Wilson added that despite Campbell earlier this season signing a two-year extension, she held concerns about his future if the Bombers don’t bounce back in 2023.
Campbell took over as Essendon chief in 2014, with the club playing finals in four of the nine campaigns since but failing to record a win in the post-season.
“I think Essendon needs to have a good next year. I know he’s just signed a new contract, and I like Xavier Campbell, I’m a supporter of Xavier Campbell. I thought the personal attacks on him earlier this year were really unfair,” she said.
“But 2-3 three ears ago he was Gillon McLachlan’s man most likely (to succeed him as AFL chief). There are now four or five CEOs ahead of him for the top job at the AFL.
“I just think his performance as CEO, particularly where the footy has been concerned, has been pretty woeful. The decisions haven’t worked out for him, a lot of footy managers who haven’t worked out.”
It comes as the Bombers this week announced an all-time membership record of 84,778 in 2022.
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