Essendon is yet to make any decisions on the club’s out-of-contract veterans
AS calls for Jobe Watson to play on in 2018 grow louder, the Bombers face some tough calls on a number of other veteran players.
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BRENDON Goddard will trigger a contract for 2018 when he runs through Essendon’s banner against North Melbourne on Saturday.
But the Bombers have not made any decisions on their out-of-contract veterans as calls for club favourite Jobe Watson to play on grow louder.
Watson, 32, was rested last week but showed against Port Adelaide last month that he could still dominate games.
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James Kelly, 33, is enjoying his best season coming out of retirement to join the Dons after the 2014 season and appears likely to be given the option of continuing next season.
But Brent Stanton and Heath Hocking could face battles.
Stanton has not played since Round 11, while Hocking’s only appearance this year came in Round 3.
With the Dons rated a good chance to return to the finals, they are in no rush to decide the futures of their older midfielders.
The clubs expects prized draftees Darcy Parish and Andy McGrath to evolve into full-time midfielders in coming seasons.
No. 1 pick McGrath has enjoyed a composed debut season as a dashing defender and is one of the favourites to win this year’s Rising Star.
The Bombers on Thursday re-signed Mitch Brown, 26, for next season and are also working through a new deal for speedy Irishman Conor McKenna.
Young stars Joe Daniher and Zach Merrett have saved the club cash by sacrificing huge dollars to stay loyal at Tullamarine.
Daniher re-signed until 2020 last month, while Merrett committed until 2021 last September.
Former coach Mark Thompson believes Watson should be allowed to decide whether to retire or play on.
“Jobe’s played some great games this year, and he’s played some average games,” Thompson said.
“Those boys, the ones that have been through the whole drama, they’ve had five years of hell — they got to play at the same time, but it wasn’t great years — then they’ve had a year off and have had three coaches in three years basically, myself, Hirdy (James Hird) and John (Worsfold).
“There’s nothing like playing under a bit of predictability, the same coach, the same voice, the same players around you.
But champion Bombers forward Matthew Lloyd recently said it should be the club’s call.
Captain Dyson Heppell backed Watson to continue while Worsfold declared he was in the best 22.
The Bombers have played a more sustainable brand of football since Round 12, as explained on The Drill podcast.
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In that time they are ranked No. 1 for attack, No. 3 for defence and are scoring 76 points from turnovers, No. 1 in the AFL.
They have also shot from 17th to 2nd for inside 50 differentials, with the Bombers’ midfield now winning the territory battle and generating more goals from the forward half.
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