Make me a bomber:
Todd Goldstein wants to continue his career at Essendon

Goldstein notified North Melbourne and Essendon on Monday afternoon, according to a source with knowledge of the decision.

Goldstein underwent a medical at Collingwood last Wednesday and, as a courtesy to Collingwood in this weekend’s finals, waited until Monday to inform the clubs of the decision mine.

Essendon prefers a two-rigger system and when Andrew Phillips retired, wanted an established ruckman to come in and work alongside Sam Draper. They may also use Draper more often next year.

Draper suffered a serious groin injury this year and missed most of the second half of the season, only returning to play the final game of the year after being sidelined for a 13th day. He had groin surgery last week.

Essendon’s season ended almost simultaneously with Draper’s absence and the Bombers were aware of the need for experienced support for Draper in the match.

The move by Goldstein, 35, means Essendon coach Brad Scott will reunite with two of his former North Melbourne players in Goldstein and fellow free agent Ben McKay.

The decision was made as it was also confirmed that former Port Adelaide captain Travis Boak has re-signed for another year with the Power.

The veteran received several offers to return to Victoria to play a season before moving into an assistant coaching role, but decided he wanted to be a player at the club he had managed for six years. year. Melbourne and Sydney are yet to hold crucial discussions over a trade for cheater Brodie Grundy, who could potentially join the Swans.

 

Grundy has four years remaining on his contract with the Demons after moving from Collingwood in the previous trade window. The Magpies are paying Grundy around $300,000 per year for the next four years in a separate direct deal between the Magpies and Grundy. Melbourne has a separate contract to pay the balance under Collingwood’s original contract.

Grundy was left out of Melbourne’s finals squad and is set to move to Sydney, with Devils team-mate James Jordon moving north, with The Age revealing the Swans’ interest in him in July. Jordon was delisted and rehired by Melbourne, so he qualifies as an unrestricted free agent and is set to move to the Swans when the free agency period opens on Friday.

Essendon are still exploring the possibility of free St Kilda striker Jade Gresham. The Saints are interested in Carlton’s Paddy Dow, pick 3 in the 2017 national draft.

Dow Carlton teammate Zac Fisher, who has signed a further two-year contract with the Blues, is expected to seek a move to North Melbourne.

North are also looking to make a move for Sydney Swans midfielder Dylan Stephens, who has been offered a four-year deal to move to Arden St.

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Essendon are understood to have demanded a first-round pick in exchange for absent defender Brandon Zerk-Thatcher. The South Australian is keen to return to his home state via a move to Alberton after six seasons in the red and black, with the end of his contract used to seal a deal with West.

With Zerk-Thatcher ineligible for free agency, the Power will have to negotiate a trade with Essendon to secure the 25-year-old’s services. However, they have encountered obstacles in trying to satisfy some opponents whose players are eager to leave. Port Adelaide in the coming weeks.

Along with Zerk-Thatcher, Geelong’s Esava Ratugolea and Western Bulldogs’ Jordan Sweet have both submitted requests to move to South Africa and join Ken Hinkley’s team, with the Power having to get creative to please all three clubs.