Essendon coach John Worsfold seems destined to be rewarded for overseeing the Bombers rebirth, with contract renewal negotiations kicking off in the new year.
Going into the final season of his three-year deal, the Bombers will start work on securing the services of the 49-year-old premiership coach before round one next season.
“Xavier (Campbell) and I have already diarised early Feburary,” Worsfold told reporters on Friday.
“It’s actually in my calendar to sit down and start to get around that stuff.”
Worsfold led the Bombers from last to seventh this year and would like to extend his reign for as long as it takes to achieve premiership success.
“My aim here is to be part of Essendon’s next premiership,” he said.
“Hopefully that means we only need a one-year deal but if it takes longer we’ll put the work in and do that.”
Boom off-season recruits Jake Stringer, Devon Smith and Adam Saad could be instrumental for the Bombers atoning for their 65-point elimination finals dismantling at the hands of Sydney.
High-profile Western Bulldogs discard Stringer is working hard and could be set for a revised role this season, Worsfold revealed.
“We know his unique attributes as a player and we’re seeing him on the training track already,” he said.
“We’ve been really impressed with his work around the midfield stoppage work as well.”
But Essendon’s increased squad depth will make picking its best 22 a difficult proposition and Stringer will have to earn his spot, Worsfold claimed.
“I wouldn’t say anyone is a round-one lock,” he said.
“I would expect that if he’s had a really solid preseason and doesn’t miss a beat that he would be in our best team.”
On Friday, Essendon ditched naming sponsorship for its Tullamarine base, reverting to its colloquial title ‘The Hanger’.
Aligee
Guest
No its not Romano from Subiaco, its Romano Subiotto QC, bit of a spelling mistake there. He is a UK educated resident.
Aligee
Guest
Petty tribalism is what makes the game of Australian football so popular, it is also what led to Essendon to being hung drawn and quartered for when no real proof was offered up in the supplements saga, in fact is was constant lies. One of the most relevant points to draw from that saga is the name Romano Subiatto QC, soccer fans may recognise his name, he is one of the Judges who found Mohamed bin Hammam who is a Qatari and ex President of the Asian Football Confederation NOT GUILTY of BRIBERY to win Qatar the 2022 WC with copious and overflowing amounts of proof, but yet managed to find Essendon players guilty with next to no proof. What a F$%^&*g joke
dave
Guest
Worsfold and Essendon are perfect fit. Hird was master of turning the blind eye in pursuit of success.Hird involved in the biggest drug scandal in AFL history replaced by the guy that turned a blind eye in the 2nd biggest drug scandal in AFL history. Worsfold will look after Stringer the same as Cousins, as long as results come the off field stuff is not important until; it hits the news.Then Woosha/Hird deny everything.
Cat
Roar Guru
Dimma is such a great coach he accomplished nothing until Richmond brought in a plethora of people to do his job for him. Nothing more than a figurehead.
Birdman
Guest
yeah yeah nah. Clarko reinvented his team and game plan in half a season to come storming home - he remains the best coach of the modern AFL era. BTW you're being pretty generous giving Goodwin a B+. Missing finals was harder than making them so he gets a C from me.
Jon boy
Guest
Harry -Top call on the coaches....Have fun up there ,watch out for the mermaids......
Harsh Truth Harry
Roar Rookie
Dimma did good Bird but Woosha right up there with what he had to pull together mate. Your bloke Clarko has fallen off the pace and back to the pack now chasing and following like everyone else. Big Harry's coach ratings for 2017 A+ - Dimma, Woosha A - none B+ Hinkcley, Goodwin, Fagan C - Pyke (shocking GF performance dropped him back), Longmire, Chris Scott, Cameron. D- (fail) Clarkson, Simpson, Bevo, Richardson E- Lyon, Buckley, Brad Scott F- Bolton, Eade
Birdman
Guest
sorry but Woosha as COTY? - ridiculous call - Hardwick by a street
Reservoir Animal
Guest
But all Essendon have done since 2004 is lose the finals they make. 2009, 2011, 2014, 2017. 2013 would've done nothing but add to that list had they been allowed to compete.
Harsh Truth Harry
Roar Rookie
Birdman after what our great club went through, to make a final was absolutely unbelievable. Talk about coach of the year it has to be Woosha. Horse Longmire only trains the Swans to win at their poky weird ground thats why they get found out on the G just like the Cats. Woosha had to blend the old and the new, the returning players and find a blend for success. One final in 2017, flag in 2018.
Mattyb
Guest
Fair enough Chris,I agree Geelong will at some point fall,I just still think they will have a use in the modern league due to geography. I do totally agree with you regarding Richmond which is why I didn't question their value to the league. I think the growth of the league can only sustain a maximum of 6 VFL clubs so when someone mentions 6 I'm always interested to how they reached that conclusion of who that 6 are. Collingwood and Richmond I'd agree are certainly big clubs worthy of a spot in a truly national competition,along with Geelong and Essendon for mine.
Birdman
Guest
hmmm....I don't know about that - Woosha seems a bit of a SNAG to me. Talking of smackings, do you have a (sensible) theory as to why the Dons didn't turn up in the EF?
Reservoir Animal
Guest
"well you won’t say who you follow" Does it matter who I follow, when you've already decided that none of the other 17 clubs' supporters have any credibility?
Harsh Truth Harry
Roar Rookie
I agree with you regarding Geelong Chris, in fact I tipped them to miss the eight in 2018 and then a decade in the bottom. They have perhaps the worst list of young players in the comp. Also dont forget Rodney Dangerfield carried a baby through the banner before that crucial final against Richmond instead of concentrating on the game with his teammates, without a doubt THE most selfish act I have ever seen before an AFL final, no surprise they got smacked. Woosha would not have let that happen if he was their coach.
Chris
Guest
Mattyb I think you are being blinded by the recent succes of the Cats and overestimate their value to the AFL: I can see them being in the wilderness for some time once the current bunch of stagers have run their race. In fact, most of them are on their last legs. Where will the next crop come from and how long will it take for this to materialise? As for Melbourne, you cannot ignore the history or the facts. A great team is a great team and sooner or later they will rise like a Phoenix. The jokes poked at Richmond for the last decade by supporters of all backgrounds were stupid insipíd and smacked of ignorance. i am a true Maggie and avoid disparaging remarks against any of the big six because inevitably you end up with egg all over your face. I acknowledge the fact that Geelong have inflicted defeats on us but they are not in the orthers league.
BigAl
Guest
They'd have to top the GF Chokers list,,,
Harsh Truth Harry
Roar Rookie
Motlop will flourish now he is free of the stifling coaching of Chris Scott, pribably win the Brownlow. definitely a Port v Essendon GF in 2018 Jon Boy. The Big H says get your money on that one!
Harsh Truth Harry
Roar Rookie
Paul, Port Adelaide are in the SANFL prior to 1997 champ, better get up with the facts big fella! The SANFL is nothing more than a suburban leage, most suburban teams like Balwyn and Vermont would beat most of those SANFL clubs each year so no use claiming they keep their records before they even entered the AFL in 1997.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Any list of the biggest clubs in AFL that doesn't include the West Coast Eagles is a list not worth making
Harsh Truth Harry
Roar Rookie
well you won't say who you follow so I reckon you need a club champ! Come on board for the flag in 2018!