Essendon’s turbulent trade period has taken another twist, with defender Jordan Ridley reportedly holding talks with senior Brisbane Lions figures despite being under contract until 2029.
The news, revealed by Herald Sun journalist Jay Clark, comes just a day after it was confirmed captain Zach Merrett had privately met with Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell.
MORE: Hawthorn midfielder's future in doubt amid Merrett chase, two players want out
Ridley, who claimed Essendon’s best and fairest in 2020, is understood to have raised his desire for a move during his recent exit interview. Brisbane has emerged as his preferred destination, the same club teammate of Sam Draper, who has been linked with a potential free agent.
Club insists concerns are performance-driven
Essendon chief executive Craig Vozzo admitted Ridley’s motivations were clear, but argued they weren’t tied to the same speculation swirling around Merrett.
“I’ve had constant dialogue with Jordan throughout his career. He’s an outstanding player, an outstanding person – and we’ve got to create the environment that allows him to flourish from a high-performance perspective,” Vozzo told SEN Breakfast.
MORE: Zach Merrett escapes Essendon? What happens if the captain doesn't go down with the ship?
Vozzo highlighted changes in the club’s medical and performance departments, adding: “We’ve gone a long way over the latest period to do that. We were able to appoint Matthew Innes to lead our high-performance and medical teams, and David Regan will join him in a 2IC position… We’re really confident that’ll address the issues, not just for Jordan, but other players who have been frustrated with the last couple of years.”
With both Ridley and Merrett in the headlines, Essendon’s off-season has quickly become one of the most closely watched in the competition.