David Evans’ health has emerged as a key reason for the stunning resignation of the Essendon chairman.
Evans dramatically quit his role at the embattled AFL club on Saturday night, only two days after making it clear he would continue in the role.
Channel Seven reported on Sunday morning that Evans had some sort of physical breakdown in the Essendon rooms after the Friday night loss to Hawthorn at Etihad Stadium.
Essendon great Tim Watson, the father of current captain Jobe, said there was no doubt the club’s anti-doping crisis had taken its toll on Evans.
“I just think he’s completely and utterly burnt out,” Watson told Channel Seven’s Game Day.
“From what I now know to be true, David has been struggling with his health for some time – he’s exhausted.
“He needs to get away, he needs to have a break.
“I really think that’s the only difference to what he had to say on Thursday night and then what he had to say (on Saturday).”
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He added that when the supplements crisis broke in early February, Evans met with the players’ parents and told them he would devote all his energies to the issue.
Asked about the seriousness of Evans’ health issue, Watson replied: “it’s serious enough for someone to stand down.
“He’s been under enormous strain and stress going back five months now.
“He said he would suspend all his duties at his work.
“This was something he would work on full-time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week if necessary and he’s maintained that.”
In a statement released on Saturday night, Evans said work and family were key reasons for his resignation.
There was no mention of his health in the statement.
Evans’ resignation comes only days before the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority hands down its findings after a five-month investigation into last year’s supplements program at the club .
The AFL is also investigating Essendon.
The pressure on Evans grew significantly last week after revelations of a phone call from AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou to Evans the night before Essendon announced they would come under investigation.
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Demetriou insists he did nothing wrong.
That in turn led to reports of a rift between Evans and his long-time friend, Essendon coach James Hird.
Evans publicly denied before Friday night’s game that there was any falling out with Hird.
There were also reports that some board members were unhappy with how Evans was managing the crisis.
But the board issued a statement on Friday, supporting him.
The Evans resignation will inevitably see even more pressure heaped on coach James Hird at the embattled AFL club.
Hird is now the most senior figure remaining of the key Essendon officials who were in charge during last year’s controversial supplements program.
Chief executive Ian Robson resigned in May, while sports scientist Stephen Dank left after last season.
Suspended fitness coach Dean Robinson quit on Friday and is set to sue the club.
Acting chief executive Ray Gunston was tight-lipped after a meeting that went for more than an hour on Sunday at Hird’s home.
Asked if Hird remained the right man to coach Essendon, Gunston replied “yeah, no problem” before driving away.
Hird’s former team-mate Matthew Lloyd also has backed him to stay on as coach, even if he is suspended as a result of the investigation’s findings.
“Just because he’s lost his chairman, who he’s good friends with, doesn’t mean he’s walking away,” Lloyd told Channel Nine.
Paul Little is expected to take over as chairman as early as Monday.
Demetriou said before leaving on an AFL fact-finding trip to the United States that the investigations remained on track for an August resolution.
“There’s nothing that’s happened in the last 48 hours, the last 72 hours, the last week that will put any of that at risk,” he said.
“Obviously it’s very disappointing … he’s been a great chairman.”
