Essendon is standing agency with no plans to commerce away Jordan Ridley, regardless of rising experiences that the defender has requested a commerce to Brisbane.
The information comes after the 26-year-old signed a three-year contract extension with the Bombers final 12 months to stay on the membership till the tip of 2029.
However Channel 9’s Tom Morris is reporting that Ridley floated the thought of a transfer, with the Lions being his most well-liked vacation spot, in his exit assembly final week.
“Essendon will say that he’s dedicated to 2026, however I can let you know that he’s not,” Morris mentioned on Ch9’s Footy Furnace.
“He needs to play for the Lions subsequent 12 months.
“Clearly, the stumbling block right here, and it’s greater than that if you wish to be trustworthy, is that he’s contracted for an additional 4 years, and the Bombers see him as an vital a part of their future.”
He has endured an error-riddled previous few seasons with persistent tender tissue accidents, together with a number of quad, hip flexor and hamstring complaints, that means he performed simply 19 video games throughout 2024 (9) and 2025 (10).
Jordan Ridley. (Picture by Michael Willson/AFL Pictures through Getty Photographs)
It’s believed that the 2020 best-and-fairest winner is annoyed with the membership’s ‘systemic’ harm administration that not solely affected him personally, however ruined the membership’s season.
Brad Scott’s facet had simply six wins this 12 months from their 23 matches, with a number of stars unfit all through the season.
“It’s disappointing that gamers wish to go away the membership, notably Jordan, who has been a terrific participant for the membership,” Essendon nice James Hird mentioned on 9.
“I do know he’s (had) accidents over the previous two years, however he’s an actual chief and a gentle hand as an individual across the membership.
“So, it’s disappointing he needs to go away, however you’re listening to a number of experiences that some gamers wish to go away the membership, and that’s regarding for the Essendon Soccer Membership that the gamers are attempting to get away from.
“There’s a number of causes – it may very well be the accidents that they’ve had.”
Whereas a commerce request was shortly shut down, it reportedly hasn’t lessened Ridley’s curiosity in a transfer. Morris added that the long-term Essendon deal received’t cease him from attempting to maneuver out of the membership.
One other think about his wanting to move to Queensland is to be nearer to household in that state.
The Lions have additionally been linked to others within the upcoming commerce interval, most notably the Eagles’ Oscar Allen, however the Bombers are beneath no obligation to commerce Ridley except they obtain a considerable provide.
The Bombers additionally plan an enormous restructure of their health employees within the low season.
‘Too many good gamers’ – large Cat shocked by AFL honour
Buddy would have mentioned “kick it to me”. Jezza would inform his AFL All-Australian teammates “I’m out of right here”.
Geelong key ahead Jeremy Cameron was gobsmacked at Thursday evening’s AFL awards evening when he was made captain of the All-Australian staff.
As he mentioned on stage, it’s the primary time he has captained any staff in his life.
When Lance “Buddy” Franklin was made All-Australian captain in 2018 – additionally with out captaining Sydney or Hawthorn – he was requested what his message could be if the honorary staff in some way had a pre-game huddle.
Franklin memorably replied “kick it to me”, which Cameron respects. However the Cats spearhead would need a completely different position.
“That’ (Franklin’s instruction) is fairly honest – I wouldn’t even put myself out within the beginning lineup, I don’t assume – too many good gamers,” Cameron advised AAP.
“I’d nearly simply sit on the sidelines and luxuriate in what’s occurring on the market. There’s some unbelievable expertise within the facet.”
Certainly, inside seconds of the announcement, Cameron mentioned he’d maintain Sydney ace Isaac Heeney out of the midfield to completely exploit his hazard as a goalsneak.
He additionally suspects one teammate nearer to house may be a handful.
“Captaining ‘Baz’ could be fairly troublesome, I think about,” he joked of fellow Geelong All-Australian Bailey Smith.
Cameron mentioned he discovered in regards to the captaincy “when everybody else did”.
“I had no concept – in any other case I most likely wouldn’t have come. I practically fell off my chair,” he mentioned.
“Then I simply needed to string two or three phrases collectively up there.”
Fellow Geelong gamers Patrick Dangerfield (2020) and Tom Hawkins (’22) have been two different All-Australians who have been made captain with out having the position that season at their membership.
It’s Cameron’s fifth All-Australian choice and he’s additionally the Coleman Medallist for the second time because the AFL’s high goalkicker.
He will probably be one among Geelong’s most vital gamers within the finals marketing campaign, which might characteristic as much as 4 video games relying on outcomes.
So, at 83 targets, does he attempt to turn out to be the primary participant since Franklin in 2008 to kick the ton?
“No, I don’t,” Cameron mentioned.
Jeremy Cameron celebrates a objective. (Picture by Morgan Hancock/Getty Photographs)
Age no barrier for Magpies’ premiership tilt
Midfielder Jack Crisp has scoffed at ideas Collingwood are too outdated to problem for the AFL premiership, adamant the Magpies’ expertise is their greatest energy.
Collingwood have been 10 factors clear on high of the ladder in June however dropped off dramatically to solely simply sneak into fourth place.
That led to query marks over the age profile of their personnel, particularly heading into the sharp finish of the season.
The Magpies have 12 gamers on their listing aged 30 or over, together with Crisp, with eight of these that includes of their most up-to-date recreation – a six-point win over 14th-placed Melbourne.
“We see how usually folks play to a a lot older age bracket as of late, and in the event you can nonetheless influence and play your position at a excessive degree, why do it’s a must to be too outdated to play soccer?” Crisp advised AAP.
“It’s nearly how we join as a system and a staff. And for 75 per cent of the 12 months, we have been doing it actually, actually, rather well.
“So write us off at your individual peril, in order for you.
“However this time of 12 months, we’ve obtained, once more, probably the most expertise, so we’ve simply obtained to verify we join properly on discipline.”
The hard-running 2023 premiership participant can be assured he can discover his finest kind as issues get scorching forward of Thursday’s qualifying ultimate in opposition to the Crows at Adelaide Oval.
Crisp, 31, has performed an AFL report 260 video games in a row, eclipsing Jim Stynes’ mark of 244 earlier this 12 months.
Steele Sidebottom celebrates with Jack Crisp. (Picture by Quinn Rooney/Getty Photographs)
The potential of a relaxation, or at the least lowered hundreds, had come up late within the season, however was in the end dominated out.
“There was most likely a few conversations, perhaps in the direction of the again finish of the 12 months, if I used to be going to be a sub or to not assist out different guys,” Crisp mentioned.
“However I believe the best way the video games have performed out, and perhaps a pair accidents right here and there for the boys that we weren’t anticipating, we put that away.
“However I’m feeling contemporary as a daisy, able to assault finals – finest time of 12 months.”
The Magpies will take coronary heart from their slim three-point loss to Adelaide on August 16.
Crows livewire Izak Rankine was later suspended for 4 matches for steering a homophobic slur in the direction of a Collingwood counterpart.
Crisp didn’t anticipate the spiteful regular-season match to have an effect on proceedings on Thursday evening.
“You’d wish to assume not,” Crisp mentioned.
“We’re simply going to go and go about our enterprise.
“However clearly, it’s a ultimate. It’s a giant event, and it was solely two weeks in the past, so I’m positive the gang’s most likely going to have one thing to say.
“However I do know Adelaide is transferring ahead. They’ve obtained to play soccer. We’ve obtained to play soccer.
“We’ll be placing our greatest foot ahead for the high-stakes recreation, and we’re trying ahead to the problem of going over there.”
– with AAP
