Former Melbourne Victory chairman Anthony Di Pietro joins Essendon’s board

Former club soccer boss Anthony Di Pietro is the latest Essendon recruit as the moribund AFL club battles to turn around its fortunes.

The former chairman of A-League club Melbourne Victory will join the Bombers’ board, filling the casual vacancy created earlier this month when president David Barham dramatically resigned.

Di Pietro’s appointment comes a week after Essendon premiership star Dean Solomon resigned from the board to become an assistant coach under Brad Scott.

It has been a tumultuous few weeks at the Bombers following another dismal season.

The club was blindsided when it was revealed during the finals that captain Zach Merrett had met with Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell.

Barham then resigned during this month’s trade period and was replaced by former player Andrew Welsh, who was adamant that Merrett would not be traded.

Merrett eventually stayed, despite tense negotiations in the hours before the trade period deadline.

In an early sign of potential healing at the club, Merrett posted the Solomon announcement last week to his Instagram feed with the “#7” tag.

Solomon, like Merrett now, wore the No.7 guernsey when he played for Essendon.

Di Pietro resigned as Victory chairman midway through 2023 after 13 years in the role.

In the Essendon statement on Thursday, he was described as a “passionate, lifelong Bombers supporter” and Welsh called it a “significant” appointment.

“I’ve been inspired by the ‘ALL IN, ALL HEART’ ethos of newly elected president Andrew Welsh,” Di Pietro said.

“I’m looking forward to supporting Andrew and the board as Essendon embarks on its next phase of building on the foundations, with a hard-working and winning mentality.”