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"Bridges to be mended": Essendon CEO on Jordan Ridley
SEN • September 11th, 2025 7:08 pm
Essendon CEO Craig Vozzo has commented on the ongoing concerns surrounding the culture and wantaway stars within the walls of the football club.
Following the news of Zach Merrett’s desired exit and the ongoing talks of Jordan Ridley’s appeal up north, several questions have been raised as to whether the club’s atmosphere, treatment of players, and overall direction is adequate for the maintenance of success.
Given the concerns, the CEO spoke with SEN Breakfast co-host Garry Lyon and Tim Watson, expressing his honest views on the vibe within The Hangar.
Watson’s question: “Are you concerned, as I am, because of the feedback that I get that players are worried and there is a problem at the football club with communication and treatment of players in some way?”
Vozzo: “Communication and treatment? Well, that’s the first I’ve heard in terms of a problem in terms of treatment and communication.”
Watson: “Let’s talk about the relationships between coaching staff and players, particularly senior players, and the feedback and whatever else they get as senior players.”
Vozzo: “No, I’m not (concerned). You want to create a high-performance environment where people are flourishing. As part of that, connection is really important.
“Connection builds camaraderie which builds feel and the intangibles that you get on-field sometimes. Can we get better interns of building connection across the player group, across the football department, across the wider club? Yes, I think is the answer.
“That’s something that I think is a constant journey. Something I really hold in great value and that I’ve seen being a critical part of success in my lifetime in footy and wider work as well.
“I think we can get better. I have no doubt about that, but that’s not pointing the finger at a particular person or persons to say they’re not doing it well or they’re poor. It’s more a critical part of growth, particularly with a young playing group and building connection across the different age levels of the list as well, and the coaching staff and the high-performance department. We need to continue to strive to get bettering that space, no doubt.”
Vozzo was also questioned on the desired exits of both Ridley and Merrett, ensuring that their luckless defender will remain at the club despite talks of a move to the Brisbane Lions.
Lyon: “The possibility is that you’re going to commence pre-season training with a captain that is being ‘held against his will’, and maybe Jordan Ridley is in a similar boat.
“All of a sudden, two of your top four most important players are going to be there against their will. If they continue to take that stance that they want out, and you hold them and hold your line, what’s that going to do for the culture of your footy club and the atmosphere for your first day back at training?”
Vozzo: “They are bridges that need to be mended, there’s no doubt about that.
“Jordan is very different to Zach; it’s a very different position. The high-performance issue is the drive there, and I can understand that.
“I’ve had constant dialogue with Jordan through his career. He’s an outstanding player and an outstanding person. We’ve got to create an environment that allows him to flourish from a high-performance perspective, and we’ve got a long way over the latest period to doing that.
“We were able to appoint Matthew Inness to head our high performance and medical team, and it’s been announced over the last 24 hours that David Regan will join him in the 2IC position.
“We’ve revamped that part of our business because we want constant improvement, and we’re really confident that that will address the issues, not just of Jordan but other players that have been frustrated with the last couple of years in terms of the soft tissue component of injuries that have endured.
“It’s a really different issue. Things change really quickly (at football clubs), and I have no doubt that if the proper conversations are held, and people respect each other, people can work together.
“‘Held against your will’, it’s an interesting one that. I’ve always very much been a players’ person. Look after the players, and I still do. That’s sort of my mantra as a leader.
“On the other side of the fence too, you’ve got to understand that when long-term contracts are entered, they’re entered for a couple of reasons: to provide security, but with that security, there’s a lack of flexibility that flows with it.
“This isn’t directed at any individuals, it’s a general comment, but when players seek long-term security, they give up a level of flexibility, and that comes with that deal.
“That comes with the responsibility of being one of the club’s highest paid players. I love sport all around the world – it’s a very unique system we live in.
“It’s more structured as to contracts. Just as players can’t be moved without their consent, clubs can keep players despite some friction, and that’s friction we’ll need to work through.”
