Michael Hurley re-signs with Essendon Bombers
UPDATE: MICHAEL Hurley’s manager says the All-Australian defender’s decision to recommit to Essendon wasn’t about money but rather where he saw his future.
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LEADING player agent Paul Connors says Michael Hurley’s decision to sign long-term at Essendon was not motivated by money.
Hurley inked a five-year extension on Thursday worth as much as $4 million.
“I think he just couldn’t see himself not playing for Essendon but he wanted to go through a process, really make a balanced decision,” Connors said.
“I think Essendon was really fair, really good in their dealings and paid market value, which for an All-Australian centre halfback, I know more than ever there’s not many out there in the TAC and running around in the draft at the moment.”
“There wasn’t any ridiculous offers (from other clubs) ... they were all fair and everyone was around the mark, it wasn’t about money.”
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Connors also manages Essendon defender Michael Hibberd, one of four Bombers yet to flag his intentions for next year.
“We’ll sit down next week when he gets his feet back on the ground, he’s really close to Michael so that will help as well,” Connors told SEN.
“None of the boys have pressured anyone, they’ve all let them make their own decisions, everyone has different feelings.”
Ending one of the biggest player hunts in recent seasons, Hurley agreed to the contract extension only on Thursday morning.
The banned Bomber was contracted for 2017, which means he will be an Essendon player until the end of 2022.
Hurley, 26, returned from overseas late last week and negotiations regarding doping-ban compensation from the club are ongoing.
Commentary was rife that Hurley was headed to the Western Bulldogs — who it is believed made a genuine offer — and he was linked to half a dozen other clubs including St Kilda and Collingwood.
“I took the time I needed to come to this decision, and to be honest I couldn’t see my future anywhere other than Essendon,” Hurley said.
“What became clear was my strong bond with the playing group, I have some really great mates at the club, we’ve made a lot of progress and I want to achieve success alongside them.”
One of 12 current players to be banned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in January this year, Hurley is eligible to return to the club in a training capacity from mid-September.
His suspension officially ends on November 13.
Essendon coach John Worsfold said the club had been confident Hurley would recommit.
Next signing expected to be former skipper Jobe Watson in coming weeks @superfooty
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“(We’re) not surprised or shocked or anything, but really pleased that he feels he’s absolutely committed to what we’re all trying to achieve together,” he said.
Hurley said the “significant changes” he has witnessed on and off the field influenced his decision, and Worsfold said that the prospect of long-term success was a key factor.
“Not only what he’s seen on-field, but he’s caught up with a few of the players throughout the year and I think he’s got the feeling that they’re enjoying their footy and enjoying some of the things that we’re putting in place here at the footy club for long-term success,” Worsfold said.
“Ultimately, I think that’s what Michael wanted to be really confident that he believes he can have some on-field team success at the Essendon Football Club.”
Essendon chief executive Xavier Campbell said the decision to offer Hurley a five-year deal was an easy one to make.
“He’s been a fantastic Essendon person for a long period of time and if you look at what John’s trying to do with the team, and all of the structures, the key positions that Hurls plays are a pretty important part in the team dynamic, and he adds a lot of value off field for our football club as well so really important,” he told SEN.
Fellow banned Bomber Dyson Heppell said Hurley’s signature was a massive show of faith in the future of Essendon.
“Behind the scenes I haven’t delved to much into it with actually prodding Hurls on what he was doing,” he said on AFL360.
“I had no inclination that he was leaving, Hurls is a very loyal man and it’s a fantastic result for the playing group, the club and the fans.
“The club is backing him in and I think it’s fantastic he’s shown that real belief in where the footy club is heading.
“That goes for the other players that have re-signed as well, we all have shown some real belief and faith in where this club is going and we’re all looking forward to driving forward together.
“I would have been super flat to have lost him. It would have been a massive loss for us but as I said it’s panned out quite well.”
Banned captain Jobe Watson is yet to signal his intentions for 2017, along with Michael Hibberd, Ben Howlett and Tayte Pears.
There is also confidence that Watson will soon commit to the 2017 season after reports he was sending text messages to players after last weekend’s victory over Gold Coast.
#18
— Xavier Campbell (@XCampbell79) August 18, 2016
Great news for everyone associated with the @EssendonFC and all the loyal EFC supporters. Brilliant news
— Matthew Lloyd (@MatthewLloyd18) August 18, 2016
Essendon chief executive Xavier Campbell said discussions with Watson were ongoing.
“Jobe is quite unique ... he’s an independent person,” Campbell said.
“He knows how much we would and our fans would love him to come back to Essendon. It’s been a challenging period for him.
“We’ve had some discussions ... what will be will be, but we’d love to see him in red and black (next year).”
Pears’ career could be over after his recent acceptance into the Metropolitan Fire Brigade.
Campbell said the club was close to finalising a contract extension for captain Brendon Goddard.
“I’d say with Brendon they’d be looking at a one-year extension and more likely a trigger beyond that but that’s something they’re clearly working through at the moment.”
Veteran Matthew Stokes, who joined the Bombers from Geelong as a top-up player, will retire after Sunday’s clash with the Western Bulldogs which will be the premiership winner’s 200th game.
Originally published as Michael Hurley re-signs with Essendon Bombers
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