Cale Hooker reveals why he couldn’t leave Essendon after signing $4m, five-year deal

CALE Hooker is staying at Essendon because he wants his club to be great again after signing a five-year deal and passing up an extra $1 million from rival clubs.

CALE Hooker is staying at Essendon because he wants his club to be great again.

The All-Australian defender signed a five-year deal on Wednesday worth about $4 million, passing up an extra $1 million from rival clubs.

Fremantle, North Melbourne, Collingwood, Melbourne and Hawthorn courted Hooker, some with six-year deals at $800,000 a year.

The suspended Hooker told the Herald Sun: “It just felt right to help the club rather than be a person to leave the club.

“The reason I’m going back to Essendon isn’t out of anger or to prove anyone wrong, it’s just to help the club become great again.

“And if I have kids, if they go to the club, they can be proud of the club.

“To see the supporters ... that Round 2 when 10,000 or 15,000 supporters were marching to the MCG, it was pretty powerful.”

A member of the Essendon 34 suspended for 12 months, Hooker said he was still healing from the ordeal, but had moved on emotionally.

“What happened at the club shouldn’t have happened, how it transpired in the four years shouldn’t have happened either, but there’s no point feeling sorry for yourself, or wanting people to feel sorry for you, my mindset now is to cop it like a man, it is what it is, and move on.’’

Cale Hooker says re-signing with the Bombers felt the right thing to do. Picture: Eugene Hyland

Essendon and Hooker’s management Tom Petroro finalised the deal on Wednesday night.

The Bombers increased their initial offer from a four-year deal to five years at about $750,000 a season.

Hooker, who flies to America next Wednesday for a holiday, said his decision was made after weeks of soul searching.

“After the (CAS) decision happened, I wanted to take time out and make sure my mind was clear and in the end, I knew what wanted to do,” he said.

“I had some very impressive offers from other teams, I wanted to consider them out of respect for them and the opportunity.

“But the best thing for me, my family, the club and the other boys was to come back to Essendon.”

Speaking for the first time since the CAS decision in January, Hooker, 27, described the initial news as devastating.

The reason I’m going back to Essendon isn’t out of anger or to prove anyone wrong, it’s just to help the club become great again.

- Cale Hooker

Surrounded by the 11 teammates still on the Bombers list, Hooker said players shed tears.

“We knew some punishment might be coming, but for it to actually come, it was a pretty unique feeling,” he said.

“It was really tough to see the looks on the other guys’ faces and knowing the impact on so many other people, the players, their families, the club, the supporters.

“The guys faces ... I can still see them now and how much it hurt them and I felt like that, too.

“There were tears ... it was devastating.”

The devastation has lifted.

“I’m at peace in my mind with how the year looks, what I want to get out of it and the next five years after that,’’ he said.

Hooker is the third Bomber to commit to Essendon for 2017 and it’s almost certain Hooker’s defensive mate, Michael Hurley, will soon commit to the club.

Hooker joins midfielders Travis Colyer and Heath Hocking as definite starters, while ruckman Tom Bellchambers and Dyson Heppell, who is tipped to be the next skipper, have indicated they will also return.

Club officials remain confident midfielder David Myers, Michael Hibberd and Brent Stanton will be back.

Cale Hooker is the third banned Bomber to re-sign with Essendon. Picture: Michael Klein

That leaves last year’s skipper Jobe Watson, who flew out of Melbourne this week, as the remaining high priority signature.

Hooker acknowledged coach John Worsfold played a role in his decision, as did some of the performances from the current playing group.

As for his teammate yet to commit, he said they had to make their own decision.

“There’s a business side to football and I don’t think anyone would’ve begrudged me if I had left, but it has to be the best thing for the each person,” he said.

Hooker will continue to seek compensation from the club for events which took place in 2012.

“That is separate,” he said of the compo claim.

“My view on the club at the time and the people involved ... it’s completely different to what the club is now. I believe in the people at the club now.’’

He admits his love and loyalty had been tested.

“I guess I do love the club,” he said. “More so ... I love playing with the blokes at the club.”

Originally published as Cale Hooker reveals why he couldn’t leave Essendon after signing $4m, five-year deal