2013 Essendon Football Club season
# 2013 Essendon Football Club season

The 2013 Essendon Football Club season is the club's 115th season in the Australian Football League (AFL).

This season also represents the first time since 2002 that the club will independently compete with a reserves team in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

## Supplements controversy

On 5 February the Essendon Football Club asked Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) to investigate the concerns over the clubs possible use of un-approved supplements during the 2012 season. An Independent review conducted by Ziggy Switkowski regarding the Essendon Football Club governance processes was released to the public on 6 May. CEO Ian Robson hands in his resignation on 23 May. He is replaced by former Tatts Group CEO and Essendon board member Ray Gunston as the interim CEO. Chairman David Evans resigns citing health issues on 27 July. Former Toll Holdings Managing Director and Essendon board member Paul Little is elected to replace him as the new Essendon Chairman. On 27 August, the AFL charged the Essendon Football Club with breaking "Rule 1.6 - engaging in conduct that is unbecoming or likely to prejudice the interests or reputation of the Australian Football League or to bring the game of football into disrepute". There have been no player sanctions from ASADA, whose investigation is still ongoing.

The following charges were handed down against club and personnel:

* $2,000,000 fine
* Club forfeits place in finals and deemed to have finished 9th
* Loss of First and Second Round draft selections in 2013 and 2014 draft
* Club receives end of First Round selection in 2014 draft
* James Hird, Head Coach - 12-month suspension (backdated to 25 August 2013)
* Danny Corcoran, Football Manager - 6-month suspension (two months of which is suspended for a period of two years)
* Mark Thompson, Senior Assistant - $30,000 fine
* Bruce Reid, Club Doctor - charges dropped

## Squad

### Trades

| Player | Traded From | Traded For |
| - | - | - |
| Brendon Goddard | St Kilda | |

* = Free Agent

| Player | Traded To | Traded For |
| - | - | - |
| Angus Monfries | Port Adelaide | Draft Pick #48 |

### Drafts

| Round | Pick | Name | From | League |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 10 | Joe Daniher | Calder Cannons | TAC Cup |
| 2 | 34 | Jason Ashby | Oakleigh Chargers | TAC Cup |
| 3 | 51 | Dylan Van Unen | Frankston Football Club | VFL |
| 3 | 53 | Martin Gleeson | North Ballarat Rebels | TAC Cup |
| 4 | 73 | Nicholas Kommer | East Perth Football Club | WAFL |
| 5 | 88 | Sean Gregory | Calder Cannons | TAC Cup |
| 6 | 101 | Pass | Pass | Pass |
| 6 | 106 | Mark Baguley | Rookie Promotion | |

* = Father-Son Selection

| Round | Pick | Name | From | League |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 8 | Ariel Steinberg | Essendon | AFL |
| Round | Pick | Name | From | League |
| 1 | 6 | Will Hams | Gippsland Power | TAC Cup |

### Delisted

| Seasons | Player |
| - | - |
| 14 | Mark McVeigh |
| 9 | Ricky Dyson |
| 8 | Henry Slattery |
| 7 | Sam Lonergan |
| 6 | Kyle Reimers |
| 4 | Brent Prismall |
| 2 | Michael Ross |
| 2 | Anthony Long |
| 2 | Ariel Steinberg |
| 1 | Brendan Lee |

* = Retired

## Results

### Pre-season (NAB Cup)

**Round 1**


    The three teams in each pool play each other in games of two 20 minute halves, with all three games being played over a three-hour period at the one venue.

| | Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 1 | | |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Friday, 15 February 6:45 pm | Essendon 1.5.6 (45) | def. | Western Bulldogs 1.1.4 (19) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 24,817) | Report |
| Friday, 15 February 8:55 pm | Collingwood 1.2.10 (31) | def. | Essendon 0.4.5 (29) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 26,921) | Report |
