Essendon chairman Lindsay Tanner joins Neil Mitchell on 3AW Mornings

• BELOW: Audio of full interview

New Essendon chairman Lindsay Tanner has issued a warning to those thinking the depleted Bombers will be a walkover on the field this season.

He said the club expected to win a ‘respectable’ number of games in 2016.

Tanner joined Neil Mitchell in studio on Wednesday to discuss his new book Comfort Zone.

While he conceded the Bombers’ depth would be tested, Tanner remained defiant about the club’s chances of performing well.

‘I certainly think you’d want a respectable number of wins,’ he said on 3AW Mornings.

‘Time will tell as to how the team gels together.

‘Injuries are everything in football.

‘If we have a reasonable year with injuries, we’re going to pretty competitive.’

Neil Mitchell: ‘You really think you can be competitive?’

‘I know a few of the clubs are celebrating if they play you twice.’

Lindsay Tanner: ‘I’ve seen that kind of mentality at the start of footy seasons a lot ? including on the part of Essendon supporters ? and it’s usually wrong.’

‘I’m happy if clubs are thinking like that, because it means the chances of them dropping their guard a bit would be a bit higher.’

The Essendon chairman also addressed…

JOBE WATSON’S BROWNLOW MEDAL…

‘I don’t know what will happen, but I expressed a view when I got the job that I thought he should keep the Brownlow Medal, regardless of all the outcomes.’

‘That’s still my position.’

THE UPCOMING PLAYER APPEALS…

‘The club is supporting that. We feel it’s the right thing to do. It’s obviously very important to the players to clear their name, if at all possible.’

JAMES HIRD’S FUTURE WITH ESSENDON?

‘I think it’s really important that in due course ? that’s up to him, as well as the club – that he’s back as a central part of the Essendon fabric.’

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Click play for audio of the full interview