Essendon has expressed its disappointment at key recruit’s exit
Essendon’s Premier Cricket plans have been dealt a major blow with the club’s key off-season recruit pulling out on the eve of the season. We look at who’s in line to take his place.
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Essendon’s plans have been dealt a major blow on the eve of the Premier Cricket season.
The Bombers’ key off-season recruit Isaac Conway has backflipped on his decision to return to Windy Hill.
With the start of the Victorian season delayed, the wicketkeeper-batsman has been playing with Port Adelaide in the South Australian Premier Cricket competition, and he has decided to remain there.
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It’s the second time in three years Conway has walked out on Essendon and Bombers president Simon Tobin expressed his frustration at how the situation was handled.
“Isaac left us two seasons ago citing better opportunities available to him at Camberwell,” he said.
“Earlier this year he contacted us to say he wanted to come back to Essendon, he had to win the trust back of the playing and coaching group.
“We spoke to Camberwell, I think they were less than impressed with the way he handled those discussions.
“He approached us five or six weeks ago seeking our blessing to play in Adelaide for the first few weeks of the season.
“Given the delay to the Victorian Premier Cricket season we were happy for him to do that, we spoke to Port Adelaide and they were happy to have him and undertook to ensure he returned.
“In the last couple of days we’ve been contacted by Isaac to say he’s had a change of heart and he wants to stay in Adelaide.
“To say we’re disappointed is putting it mildly.”
Conway captained Darwin District club Waratah to a premiership during the off-season and made a strong start in South Australia, posting an unbeaten 104 in Port Adelaide’s win over Southern District.
However, with just four weeks to go before the Victorian season kicks off, his decision has not gone down well.
“He’s a very good cricketer, Isaac, but he makes some poor decisions and I think he’s got a lot of maturing to go,” Tobin said.
“We’re very disappointed in the way he’s conducted his departure.”
Essendon returns to training on Thursday night and there are several replacement options.
Donovan Toohey was behind the stumps in eight First XI matches last season, including the Bombers’ elimination final.
Struggles with the bat and the arrival of English import Jack Davies saw him dropped to the Second XI but he showed potential when he returned to first grade late in the season.
Nathan Shoesmith is also in the mix while promising youngster Mitch Lawson might be given more time to develop before being thrust into the First XI.
Tobin said the club would look to promote its own talent rather than recruit.
“You look to the bright side and the opportunities it presents to younger players,” he said.
“There’s several options and that’s evolving as we speak.
“It’s probably too late to go and recruiting somebody else from another club at this stage and that’s not fair to those clubs either.”
Round 1 has been pushed back to November 28 with Essendon to open the season on the road against Geelong.