Delisted Essendon tall opens up on shock exit as Victorian club reportedly shows interest

Delisted Essendon swingman James Stewart has opened up on his surprise Bombers departure, having been cut from the club with a year to run on his contract.

2024 was set to be Stewart’s eighth in the red and black, having sought a move to Tullamarine from GWS at the end of the 2016 season.

The 29-year-old battled with form and injury over his final two seasons with Essendon, playing six games at AFL level last year and would make just two appearances for the club’s VFL side in 2023 after spending time away from football due to the recent passing of his father, Craig.

Ahead of the Bombers’ final game of the season, Stewart was notified his time with the club wouldn’t continue next year despite a year to run on his contract.

The list call came without warning to Stewart, who told The Herald Sun that the sudden farewell “could have been handled better”.

“I found it difficult to rationalise the decision,” Stewart told the publication.

“At the end of the day I have to accept it. But I am in a spot where at 29 I feel I have got so much great footy ahead of me.

“… I got pulled into a meeting before the last round of the season and had a discussion. I knew I was leaving my run late but I was pulled into a meeting and they said this decision has been made.

“I said I would have hoped to have your backing but I will roll up and prove you wrong.

“I have been around the industry long enough to know not many of us get a Joel Selwood-style ending but at the same time I think it could have been handled better.”

The Herald Sun has revealed St Kilda have shown some level of interest in the Sandringham Dragons product, who has 78 games of experience at AFL level as both a lockdown defender or marking forward.

The Saints could offer Stewart a training position with the club over the pre-season, while his management is also said to be evaluating potential interest from Sydney.

Stewart said he’s “not ready to walk away from footy” and believes his body is as fit as it has been since the start of his career.

“There was no forewarning but I am more than motivated given what I have been through,” he added.

“The motivation shifts. Not to prove people there wrong, but to prove people like my dad right who believe in me and what I can do.

“I am not ready to walk away from footy. I am so bullish about my ability and where I am in my career.

“The people who made the decision didn’t get to see me at my full potential but in your career you have ups and downs so sometimes things happen for a reason.”

Stewart was one of seven Essendon players to be delisted by the club this year, joining Alastair Lord, Rhett Montgomerie, Anthony Munkara, Will Snelling, Patrick Voss and Cian McBride in leaving the club.

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SANFL club Norwood have announced the signings of ex-AFL pair Cooper Murley and Alastair Lord following their departures from Collingwood and Essendon respectively.

The recently de-listed duo return to the Redlegs after spending the past two seasons in the top flight, having been drafted at the end of 2021 as part of the dozen SANFL prospects recruited at the national intake.

Lord, a 181cm defender, would end his time with Essendon with one AFL game to his name, which came in Round 8, 2022 as an unused medical sub.

The teenager played 36 games for the Bombers’ reserves during his time at Tullamarine, and now joins ex-teammate Murley and Essendon VFL captain Billy Cootee in heading to Norwood.

Murley wouldn’t register a game under Collingwood coach Craig McRae during his time with the Magpies after being taken with the 49th selection at the AFL Draft – one pick after Essendon recruited Lord.

The small forward played 20 games for Collingwood’s VFL side this year, including a career-best three-goal outing against GWS in Round 8.

On Friday Norwood confirmed the signings of both Murley and Lord, adding further top-listed players to their squad for the 2024 season.

“Cooper was part of both our Norwood Junior and Senior programs in 2021 prior to being drafted to Collingwood,” Norwood coach Jade Rawlings said of Murley.

“We have a desire to provide an opportunity and a place for our Norwood juniors to come back to.

“We met with Cooper to discuss what his AFL experience was like, and we couldn’t be more impressed with his view on his two years at Collingwood and the growth he was able to establish.”

Rawlings was equally excited with the acquisition of Lord.

“Being his old club we hoped that we would be someone that he wanted to come back and play for, but we don’t take that for granted and went through a thorough process with Alastair. We are bullish about his growth over the past two years,” Rawlings said.

“Him wanting to come back and wanting to be a part of Norwood, and strive to improve his footy is great to see.”

Norwood finished in seventh this year under Rawlings, amassing six wins, 11 losses and one draw for the season in their premiership defence.