David Barham’s decision to walk the plank and hand the Essendon presidency to his chosen successor Andrew Welsh, ahead of schedule, could well avert further tumult at the club, although one cannot count on a cessation of turbulence at Tullamarine.

Barham, who stood for re-election last year and saw off an unconvincing challenge from dual 1980s premiership player Paul Weston, had planned then to pass the baton to Welsh, a tough 162-game Essendon player who has made a pile in property development, sometime midway through his term.

But the fact of an injury pestilence and ensuing 13 consecutive defeats, and skipper Zach Merrett’s wish to be traded to Hawthorn, placed enormous heat on Barham, whose emotional style – and unapologetic willingness to make brutal change and put noses out of join

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