Essendon star Jordan Ridley has hit the club with a shock trade request, according to Nine's Tom Morris.
The 26-year-old has nominated Brisbane as his preferred destination, although the Bombers have shut down Ridley's request, who is under contract until the end of 2029.
It's believed the club's management of Ridley's injuries is to be at the forefront of his concerns, with the key defender having only played 19 games in the last two years (including 10 in 2025).
"Jordan Ridley wants to leave Essendon, ideally for the Brisbane Lions," Morris posted on X.
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"He raised the prospect of a trade in his exit meeting last week & it was shut down. He is contracted until the end of 2029. This long-term deal won't stop him trying to move.
"The 2020 best & fairest has been frustrated at the club's injury management and he has family connections in Qld."
Jordan Ridley wants to leave @essendonfc, ideally for the @brisbanelions.
— Tom Morris (@tommorris32) August 31, 2025
He raised the prospect of a trade in his exit meeting last week & it was shut down. He is contracted until the end of 2029.
This long-term deal won't stop him trying to move. The 2020 best & fairest has…
The Lions are expected to be one of the most active teams in the upcoming trade period, with West Coast co-captain Oscar Allen intending to sign with the club as a free agent, while Brisbane are also the frontrunners to land fellow Bomber Sam Draper.
If Ridley gets his wish to become a Lion, he will become the second high-profile key back Brisbane land in recent years, having also lured Tom Doedee over from Adelaide at the end of the 2023 season.
Brisbane have had success in recent years in helping injury-prone players get a clean slate, with former Essendon star Joe Daniher being just one example, although Doedee has managed just one appearance as a Lion in two years.
Ridley is not the only Bomber player to have struggled with health in 2025, with the Bombers having had a horrid run with injuries this year, a big reason for their 13-game losing streak to end the season.
The club have committed to overhauling its fitness staff in the off-season, after deciding to part ways with its head of high performance Sean Murphy.
At the beginning of 2024, Ridley signed a three-year extension with Essendon to see him through to the end of the decade.