Essendon leaking ‘bad comments’ about star Adam Saad after trade request

Eddie McGuire has told Essendon to bite its tongue after reports the club has aired dirty laundry following one of the club’s “saddest days”.

Adam Saad on the move.

Eddie McGuire has told Essendon to bite its tongue after the club reportedly aired the dirty laundry of star defender Adam Saad following his bombshell trade request this week.

It comes as Bombers legend Matthew Lloyd on Wednesday night declared star forward Joe Daniher’s request for a trade to Brisbane to be one of the “saddest days” he has seen at the club.

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Star defender Saad’s trade request on Tuesday sent shockwaves through the AFL followed by reports he nominated the Blues as his preferred destination despite Carlton’s reported five-year deal being similar to the five-year, multi million-dollar offer Essendon had reportedly put on the table.

Despite finishing in the top four of the club’s best and fairest in all three seasons he was at the club, reports claim Saad simply lost faith in the club’s direction.

His announcement was followed this week by a report from Fox Footy’s Tom Morris, which suggested Saad had a “self-serving” quality and struggled to put the team first if it threatened his bread and butter of rebounding off the half back line.

That was followed on Wednesday night by a report from Caroline Wilson on Channel 9’s Footy Classified that Essendon personalities had leaked “bad comments” about Saad to her following his decision to walk out on the club.

Eddie Betts with Adam Saad.

Wilson said she was told Saad had a verbal altercation with former Bombers coach John Worsfold in front of teammates when he indicated he did not want to play a sacrificial role to lock down Lions star Charlie Cameron when the Bombers lost to the Lions by 63 points in Round 9.

“The club is saying to me that going back to Round 9 when Essendon was badly beaten by Brisbane on that night, the coach asked him to stand Charlie Cameron,” Wilson said.

“Cameron was seen as the key to the Brisbane Football Club as we know. I don’t think Adam was happy about that. In front of the other players he said that he would rather play the game he normally plays along the half back line. I think Cameron ended up kicking four goals that night.

“I’m not sure that he refused, but he argued with the coach about it.

“It’s interesting that Essendon are putting the bad comments out about him now when as you say they made him a pretty decent offer.”

McGuire responded to the story by saying: “Sometimes you need to bite your tongue. Essendon just need to let it go now”.

Joe Daniher and disappointed teammates.

Lloyd said Saad’s decision “stings” the most — even more than Daniher’s departure.

“Don’t give me the talk tonight about (they players) not getting around (coach) Ben Rutten’s game plan,” he said.

“This is clearly a culture issue of players not being happy, not being content, not sure the direction of the club or if they are going to get any success there.

“So for such a proud, proud club, this is one of the saddest days that I think I’ve been involved with.”

The Bombers are at crisis point and speculation on Wednesday suggested the club should now be concerned about the future of star midfielder Zach Merrett.

The club will reportedly offer Merrett a five-year deal worth up to $900,000 per-season this off-season, according to The Herald Sun.

The panic button will be pushed if the 2021 season starts and Merrett remains unsigned.