Michael Hibberd requests trade from Essendon, seeks fresh start to reinvigorate his career

ESSENDON defender Michael Hibberd has ended speculation surrounding his playing future, telling the Bombers he wants to be traded.

ESSENDON defender Michael Hibberd has ended speculation surrounding his playing future, telling the Bombers he wants to be traded.

Hibberd is the first banned Bomber to tell the club he won’t return after serving his 12-month ban handed down by the Court of Arbitration for Sport for his role in the 2012 supplements program.

In July, the Herald Sun reported the 26-year-old is likely to request a trade to Melbourne.

Hibberd says he needs a fresh start when he returns to the field in 2017.

“I had a process to work through, and after having time to reflect I felt like I need a fresh start at another club to reinvigorate my career,” he said.

“I have, and will always have, great mates at the club and I wish them and the club all the best for next season and beyond.

“I have no ill feeling toward Essendon, and would like to thank them for giving me the opportunity to play senior football”.

Michael Hibberd won’t be returning to Essendon in 2017. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Bombers chief executive Xavier Campbell is adamant Hibberd has not nominated a destination club of choice, despite reports that he wants to join former Essendon assistant and soon-to-be Melbourne senior coach Simon Goodwin at the Demons.

“No, he hasn’t nominated a club,” Campbell said on ABC Radio.

“That’ll be something that (list manager) Adrian Dodoro and his manager Paul Connors will work through over the next few weeks. I’m not sure that’s a decision he’s come to.”

Have to respect Hibbo's decision.. I'm sure it wasn't easy! Wish him nothing but the best for the future. #farewelllockerbuddy 😢✌🏼️

— Thomas Bellchambers (@_TommyBell_) August 20, 2016

He said it will be “difficult not to see (Hibberd) in red and black in the future”, but conversations will still need to be had as to what the Bombers will look to seek in a trade.

Melbourne’s first draft pick is currently No.28

“That’s up to Adrian (Dodoro, the club’s list manager). That’s Adrian’s area. Ultimately he’s in charge with all of that and it’ll be a decision that we’ll assess in due course.

“It will be difficult not to see him in red and black in the future, but equally with that, we want to support him. Good people deserve that support and we’ll support him to get to another destination with the agenda of reinvigorating his career, as he’s stated.”

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He said until the decision was reached, he had been confident of retaining the defender.

“You go through different stages with different players and your confidence levels alter throughout, because it’s been such a challenging period,” he said.

“We’ve had varying levels on engagement and interaction with those players. I still felt reasonably confident that we were in a position where we were going to retain those players, but we were still supportive of giving them the time needed to come to a decision that they felt comfortable with.”

Michael Hibberd has played his last game for Essendon. Picture: George Salpigtidis

Hibberd’s decision comes after a major signing for Essendon on Thursday, with All-Australian defender Michael Hurley signing on until the end of 2022.

The Bombers had been confident on retaining all their banned players.

Jobe Watson, Ben Howlett and Tayte Pears are the remaining three players yet to decide their future.

Watson, 31, is still holidays overseason and is yet to make a call on whether he will play on next year.

“I can’t shed any light on that,” his father, Essendon great Tim Watson told SEN on Friday.

“I know he hasn’t decided whether or not he’s going to continue playing.”

Originally published as Michael Hibberd requests trade from Essendon, seeks fresh start to reinvigorate his career