FORMER Essendon champion Simon Madden says joining the club's board would be his way of helping repair the damage done during the 2012-13 supplements scandal.
Madden, who shares the club record of 378 games with Dustin Fletcher, is one of four nominations to fill two available elected positions ahead of the club's annual general meeting on December 16.
One of the game's greatest ruckmen and a star in Essendon's 1984-85 premierships, Madden held the Bombers' games record in his own right for 24 years between 1989 and 2013.
He has had an ongoing involvement with the club and said the challenges of 2013 factored in his decision to nominate for the board.
"You can stand back and point and complain, or you can try and do something about it," he told AFL.com.au.
"I think the best thing to do is try and get myself on the board and help the club move forward in a positive direction.
"It's not something you take lightly and you want to give it your best approach."
Madden has been involved in the Bombers' football department as a ruck coach, its Hall of Fame selection committee and coterie groups as well as doing corporate work with the club.
The 1985 Norm Smith medallist, who captained the club in 1980 and 1981, had knocked back past approaches to join the board because of family and business commitments.
However, after stepping down from the AFL Players Association board after more than five years, he said he had the time and experience to assist the club.
"I had approaches from a number of people at all levels of the club just in general discussion," he said.
"They were saying, 'You're the type of person we need on the board', and this time I thought it came from all levels of the club, so I thought that was a fairly straightforward endorsement.
"Now my kids have grown up, I've been in business a while, I've had some time on the AFL Players Association, and I think with that combination it's the right time."
Current director Phil Pryor and long-term members Rob Harwood and Vito Guzzardi are the other nominees.
