Essendon faces complicated choices on its list for 2017

ESSENDON’S 10 top-up players have two weeks left to show they deserve a spot on an AFL list next year. Who will be playing for Essendon in 2017?

James Kelly in action against Geelong.

ESSENDON faces a list management situation never seen before at an AFL club.

Every club will be holding tense meetings to build a strategy for the rapidly approaching trade, free agency and draft period.

But no other club is trying to figure out how their team will look with not only possible new trade acquisitions and draftees, but up to 12 senior players who have been sitting out this season thanks to a drug suspension.

THE TACKLE: BOMBER WIN ON BACK OF DEFENSIVE STARS

FUTURE: ‘ESSENDON FIVE’ FACE BIG DECISIONS

At the start of this season the AFL created special rules allowing the Bombers to sign 10 “top-up” players to help cover the gap on its list left by the bans handed out to the Essendon 34.

Those bans expire soon and with them, the AFL dreams of most of those top-up players.

In total 22 players arrived at Windy Hill before the start of this season — one free agent (Matthew Leuenberger), one trade (Craig Bird), seven national draftees, three rookies, and the 10 top-ups. And Shaun McKernan was elevated from the rookie list to the senior list.

The top-ups are on short-term contracts that expire on October 31 and will have to be drafted if they are to continue their AFL career. Essendon doesn’t have any special access to those players ahead of any other club that might want to recruit them.

Rookies can be retained or promoted to the senior list.

Mature-age recruits Mitch Brown and Michael Hartley were recruited in last year’s national draft and are guaranteed another year on the list.

Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti has been the clear rookie standout, playing 19 matches, and is a strong chance to be elevated for next year.

Matt Dea has missed only one game this season. Picture: Michael Klein

Of the top-ups former Tiger Matt Dea is making the strongest case for another AFL lifeline. He has also played 19 matches, averaging 17 disposals, six marks, two tackles and a career-high 74 SuperCoach points per game.

James Kelly should also get another year based on form — he is averaging 95 SuperCoach points over 18 games — but the 32-year-old is yet to decide if he wants to extend his career.

The only other top-up player who seems a chance of getting another crack is former Hawthorn premiership player Jonathan Simpkin, who has played just four games in a season derailed by injuries.

Simpkin returned to the senior side against Gold Coast and picked up 24 disposals.

Mathew Stokes is considered a certainty to hang up the boots after Round 23 along with Ryan Crowley, who hasn’t played since suffering a hamstring injury against his old team Fremantle in Round 11.

Former Lion James Polkinghorne might have some hopes of continuing his AFL career after coming into the team in the past three weeks and collecting 20, 15 and 21 disposals, but Sam Grimley, Sam Michael and Mark Jamar should just enjoy the fact they got another crack at it.

And Nathan Grima can turn his attentions full-time to SuperCoach after finishing top-three in the country last week.

James Kelly is likely to finish in the top three of Essendon’s best-and-fairest. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

WHO STAYS, WHO GOES?

LISTED

Mitch Brown

Michael Hartley

Craig Bird

Matthew Leuenberger

Shaun McKernan

ROOKIES

Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti (19 games in 2016)

Will Hams (8)

Jake Long (1)

Conor McKenna (10)

Gach Nyon (0)

Tom Wallis (0)

TOP-UPS

Matt Dea (19)

James Kelly (18)

Mathew Stokes (10)

Ryan Crowley (8)

James Polkinghorne (7)

Jonathan Simpkin (4)

Sam Grimley (4)

Mark Jamar (4)

Sam Michael (2)

Nathan Grima (2)

Michael Hibberd is yet to commit to the Bombers for next season. Picture: Colleen Petch

RETURNING

Dyson Heppell

Cale Hooker

Tom Bellchambers

Travis Colyer

Brent Stanton

Heath Hocking

David Myers

NOT SURE

Jobe Watson

Michael Hurley

Michael Hibberd

Ben Howlett

Tayte Pears