The ‘Essendon Five’ face some big decisions in the coming weeks

NOW it’s down to the “Essendon Five”, the suspended Bombers yet to recommit to their club for 2017 and beyond.

Jobe Watson. Picture: Getty Images

NOW it’s down to the “Essendon Five”, the suspended Bombers yet to recommit to their club for 2017 and beyond.

When Brent Stanton agreed to a one-year contract this week, he joined Tom Bellchambers, Travis Colyer, Dyson Heppell, Heath Hocking, Cale Hooker and David Myers from the 12 suspended players still on Essendon’s list who will return next year.

It left as unknowns Michael Hibberd, Ben Howlett, Michael Hurley, Tayte Pears and Jobe Watson.

Jobe Watson. He’s the skipper, at 31 the oldest of the dozen ... and then there’s the matter of the Brownlow Medal he won in 2012.

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It is still in limbo as far as the AFL is concerned.

As the players’ and sometimes the club’s spokesman for much of 2013-15, Watson arguably carried the biggest burden of any of the total of 34 current and former Bombers who were suspended.

So far he has given no public indication of his football plans next year, but one source said this week Watson was “in a very good head space” following a European holiday and a short stint working as a barista in New York.

Jobe Watson is still undecided on his future. Picture: Getty Images

He is believed to be back in Europe at the moment.

And while Essendon officials and friends of Watson believe he would love to finish — in form and on his own terms — at the club where he has played 200 games, what happens with his Brownlow most likely will determine his playing future.

If he is stripped of the medal, there is little likelihood of Watson continuing in the AFL.

In fact, don’t be surprised if he plays a season in the Victorian Amateur Football Association with Old Xavierians. He went to school at Xavier College.

Michael Hurley, 26, who arrived back in the country this week, won’t make a decision based on money.

He will be well paid whether it’s with the Bombers or another club, so it will come down to where he thinks he has the best chance of finals success.

If the Bombers can convince him they have a premiership in them within five years, then they remain in the hunt.

If not, Melbourne, St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs would welcome Hurley with open arms. Known as strong-minded and meticulous, he will also want to be satisfied that every aspect of his chosen club is up with the best in the competition.

Michael Hibberd, 26, was considered a virtual certainty to join Melbourne, where his friend Jake Melksham will play next year.

Hibberd also has a strong relationship with incoming Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin.

But that was a month ago. Now there are hints that Hibberd could be wavering.

Ben Howlett, 28, is known to have a strong love for Essendon, even if he hasn’t always been at the forefront of negotiations in the past. He is considered likely to return, irrespective of where he sits in terms of the Bombers’ best 22.

Michael Hurley returned to Melbourne last week. Picture: Wayne Ludbey.

Tayte Pears, 26, has been injury-riddled in recent years but is likely to pursue a career in the fire brigade.

So, best-case scenario is Essendon keeps all five, meaning a competitive 22 and a potential finals push in 2017. Worst-case sees them lose Hibberd, Hurley and Watson — big boots to fill.

Meanwhile, the Bombers have not ruled out James Kelly — the former Cat who joined as a “top-up” player — continuing for another year following a season where he should finish top five in the club’s best-and-fairest. The Bombers will sit down with Kelly, 32, soon to try to convince him he has more football left in him, particularly if he can complete a full pre-season.

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Essendon will most likely have the No. 1 pick in both the national and pre-season drafts. The priority most likely will be a midfielder and Jack Bowes, Will Brodie, Hugh McCluggage and Sam Petrevski-Seton are the candidates.

Mobile tall forward Todd Marshall also continues to rise as clubs recognise a huge upside in a talent regarded as largely untapped.

Ben Howlett is expected to stay at Essendon. Picture: Michael Klein

The “Essendon 34” were found guilty by the World Anti-Doping Agency of having used the banned peptide Thymosin beta-4, resulting in their suspensions for the 2016 season.

Seventeen of the 34 are still on AFL lists — the Essendon 12 plus Melksham (Melbourne), Angus Monfries and Paddy Ryder (Port Adelaide), Jake Carlisle (St Kilda) and Stewart Crameri (Western Bulldogs).

POSSIBLE 2017 ESSENDON LINE-UP

B: Baguley Hartley Brown

HB: *Hibberd *Hurley Myers

C: Colyer *Watson Goddard

HF: Kelly Hooker Parish

F: Tipungwuti Daniher Francis

R: Leuenberger Heppell Z. Merrett

I: Hocking, Fantasia Zaharakis Stanton Laverde, Langford *Howlett J. Merrett

*If they recommit

Originally published as The ‘Essendon Five’ face some big decisions in the coming weeks