Bombers pitch in to keep Jason Winderlich Emma Quayle
The Age
October 9, 2014Essendon has not lost hope of persuading Jason Winderlich to play on for the Bombers next year, with president Paul Little and yet-to-be-appointed assistant coach Mark Harvey among the officials to have contacted him in the past two days.
Winderlich is expected to make a definitive call before the end of the week, having requested that Essendon release him from his contract so he can cross to Richmond as a free agent, otherwise he would push on with his retirement plans.
The 29-year-old has taken calls from officials including Little, Harvey and coach James Hird since his desire to leave became known this week.
All have told him he is a required player at Essendon next year, despite his decision to retire from the club in August despite knowing he had activated a one-year contract extension for 2015.
Winderlich has asked the club to let him go, citing his need for a fresh start away from the Bombers given he is in the last phase of his career and has been worn down by the ongoing fallout of the ASADA investigation.
He is not among the players to have received show cause notices as a result of the club's 2012 supplements program, having not participated in the injection program.
The Bombers may receive a compensation pick in the third round should they grant Winderlich's wish to leave for the Tigers as an unrestricted free agent.
Free agency compensation is based on a player's age and the average of the contract offered to them, with the threshold believed to be $300,000.
Carlton was not compensated for Jarrad Waite's move to Carlton, with his two-year contract averaging out to payments of less than $300,000 per year.
In combination with the Bombers' own third-round selection, letting Winderlich leave for another pick could provide the club with an opportunity to trade both for a selection higher up the order.
The Bombers would have to keep a retired Winderlich on their list for 2015 to prevent him from moving to another club, with the pre-season draft an option if Essendon refuses to release him.
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