SEN Chief Sports Reporter Sam Edmund believes Adam Saad’s reluctance to sign a new deal at Essendon is largely down to his concerns about the club’s direction.
The dashing defender remains without a deal at the Bombers for 2021, with multiple Victorian clubs signalling their interest if he does choose to leave the club.
The 26-year-old has played every game for Essendon this season in what has arguably been his best year for the Bombers after moving from Gold Coast at the end of 2017.
Edmund said there was a long-term deal for Saad on the table, but he remained “concerned” about the club’s direction under new coach Ben Rutten, who will officially take over from John Worsfold following this weekend’s game against Melbourne.
“It’s just a bizarre stand-off,” he said on SEN Breakfast.
“It’s a potentially a long-term deal (for Saad) but I’m told the player is just as concerned about the direction at Essendon as much any anything which you can understand.”
Jordan Lewis named his former club Melbourne as well as Carlton as two possible destinations where his customary run off half-back would be an asset.
“Melbourne would love to have him,” he said.
“Any team would love to have a player like Adam Saad off the half-back line. He just uses the ball well and breaks the lines.
“In an era where a lot of sides zone and that zone being hard to penetrate, those players are so important. He would also be great for Carlton (as well), you think that he’d be the link they’re missing at the moment with a bit of outside run.
“It would be sad if he left Essendon.”