Essendon’s desire to secure longer commitments from its brightest young talents is holding up the confirmation of new deals.
Nik Cox, Archie Perkins and Zach Reid remain the only players from the top 10 of the 2020 national draft yet to have re-signed beyond their initial two-year contracts.
The exciting trio, taken by the Bombers with selections eight, nine and 10 18 months ago, underpin the club’s rebirth under Ben Rutten after the departure of senior players Joe Daniher, Adam Saad and Orazio Fantasia.
Essendon is in negotiations with the management of Cox, Perkins and Reid. There is no danger of any of them switching clubs and all three have verbally committed to staying at Tullamarine and are happy at the club.
Sources said there is no haggling over money, but that as things stand, there is a snag over the length of the contracts.
The Bombers are attempting to secure longer deals for the blossoming trio, but there is some reluctance from the management teams of the just-turned 20-year-olds to over-commit given their expected rate of improvement.
The second contract for a top-end draft pick – after the standard two-year deal to enter the competition – can be a complicated one.
Sydney wanted to tie pick 4 Logan McDonald to a four-year contract before the young key forward signed for two.
The Swans did tie up their fifth pick, Braeden Campbell, for three more years.
Essendon is also in positive talks with 2016 No.1 draft pick Andrew McGrath over a new contract, while young midfielder Sam Durham has signed a two-year deal after joining the club via last year’s mid-season rookie draft.
Meanwhile, young forward Harry Jones is a chance to return from an ankle injury this week.
Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti played in the VFL and while he has some match conditioning work to do, is settled once again.