Jobe Watson to meet with coach John Worsfold about his playing future in next fortnight

ESSENDON coach John Worsfold will meet with Jobe Watson in the next week to get a gauge on his intentions for 2017 as he remains hopeful he’ll return to the Bombers.

ESSENDON coach John Worsfold will meet with Jobe Watson in the next fortnight to get a gauge on his intentions for 2017 as he remains hopeful the star midfielder will return to the Bombers.

Watson and defender Tayte Pears are the final two banned Bombers to confirm their intentions for next season, with Michael Hibberd the only one so far to declare he wants out.

Still currently travelling, as he has done for most of this year whole serving his suspension, Watson will return to Australia in the next week and Worsfold has a meeting planned but remains unsure of the skipper’s intentions.

“I can’t at the moment,” Worsfold said when asked whether he can shed any light on the 31-year-old’s intentions. “I can let you know that I’ll catch up with Jobe in just over a week or so, when he arrives back in the country.

Jobe Watson will soon meet with Essendon coach John Worsfold about his playing future. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

“I’m looking forward to catching up with him then.”

The Bombers have re-signed key players Dyson Heppell, Cale Hooker and Michael Hurley but Watson’s signature remains elusive.

He carried an enormous mental and emotional toll throughout the supplements saga and Worsfold knows he has been hurt.

But the Essendon coach, who has galvanised the club in his first season at the helm wants Watson to return and help him rediscover his love of football.

“I’ve said before I’d love to see him play on,” he told RSN. “We know he has a passion for the game but that has been challenged.

Jobe Watson’s love for the game has been tested. Picture: Getty

“Absolutely he is (hurt) ... the situation that he’s in, we know these players feel like they did a fair bit to try and not end up in this position. They didn’t ever believe they would be in this position because of the measures they attempted to take.

“They are hurt because in their hearts they can’t believe that it’s got to this point, where they’ve sat out of footy for a year.

“I would love Jobe, when he finishes his playing career whether that is now or whether that’s in a year or two years time, (to) remember how much he loves the game.

“That’s what we’d like to offer him, that opportunity.”

Watson’s father, Essendon great Tim Watson, hasn’t spoken to him about his playing future but admits decision time is coming.

“I think he’s going to have to. He must be closer. To be honest, I haven’t spoken to him about this for some time,” he told SEN. “He has to eventually make a decision on that sooner rather than later, I would think.”