Essendon president David Barham has fired a warning shot to players who aren’t conducting themselves ‘as professionals’ on and off the field in an eye-opening speech at the club’s best and fairest function.

Within Barham’s compelling address at the Bombers’ awards night on Thursday were plaudits for senior coach Brad Scott, who he said has ‘elevated’ club standards in his two-year tenure.

However, the nine-year club director maintained the time for excuse-making was over following consecutive Essendon seasons that have seen a major fall from grace at the business end.

Bombers captain Zach Merrett was awarded his fifth Crichton Medal on Thursday, but it was Barham’s speech to set the scene that ignited proceedings.

“I stand here tonight incredibly optimistic about our future, but I am also stinging from the pain of sitting through a finals series and a grand final that didn’t involve our club,” Barham told the audience at Centrepiece Melbourne on Thursday evening.

“Unfortunately, the end of our men’s 2024 season was bitterly disappointing for everyone in the room — to win just three of our last 11 (matches) and miss the finals was gut-wrenching after such a promising start to the year.

“We are impatient for success, and the pain of missing out this year drives us all to search deeper and look further for what more we need to do to get there.”