Essendon great Tim Watson understands that out-of-contract Bomber Cale Hooker is a chance to earn a new deal, despite being dropped for Saturday night’s clash with Sydney.
The 32-year-old is Essendon’s leading goalkicker with 33 majors, but his form has dipped after a strong start to the year, kicking four goals in the last six weeks.
Bombers coach Ben Rutten recently told reporters that the club remains undecided whether Hooker will play on in 2022.
“I think they may have moved a little bit on that (new contract),” Watson told SEN Breakfast.
“But he (Hooker) hasn’t been setting the world on fire with his play. The fact that (Aaron) Francis is now available to play, that probably changes that.
“I heard them talk about the fact that they’ve been playing Francis forward and back (in the VFL). Maybe they’re going to trial him again as a forward this weekend against the Swans.
“(James) Stewart will probably go to ‘Buddy’ (Lance Franklin), so maybe they’re still looking at what they can do and what they’ve got at their disposal going forward.
“I think they’re probably going to offer him (Hooker) another year.
“But when you get into the twilight of your career and you get dropped, the alarm bells start to go off.”
Hooker, David Zaharakis and Brayden Ham were all omitted from the side to take on the Swans with Francis, Kyle Langford and Dylan Clarke their replacements.
The veteran Bomber and 2014 All-Australian has played 219 games since debuting in 2008.