Some Essendon players are being made to wait for new contracts as the club looks to bolster its list this trade period.
The likes of Massimo D’Ambrosio, Will Snelling and Patrick Voss are all currently in contract limbo with their 2023 deals set to expire at the end of October.
The Bombers recently re-signed small forward Jye Menzie on a one-year contract but D’Ambrosio, Snelling and Voss remain unsigned beyond 2023.
AFL Media’s Josh Gabelich explained the “interesting” situation regarding the Dons and some of their fringe players.
“There’s a lot of interesting stuff going at Essendon with some uncontracted players,” Gabelich said on SEN’s Sportsday.
“Jye Menzie got a new deal this week, (but they’re) still waiting to see what happens with Massimo D’Ambrosio, the mid-season pick from last year.
“Will Snelling, who was also a mid-season pick, is being made to wait. Patrick Voss is the other one.
“At this time of year, there are some players that have been told that you just have to wait until we get through the trade period to see how many spots we’ve got left, because spots on lists are hard right now.”
After a strong start to his career early in 2022, Gerard Healy wanted to know where D’Ambrosio has been, especially since racking up 45 disposals across Rounds 2 and 3 this year.
Healy asked: “What happened to Massimo?
“He was a star midway through last year.”
Despite his limited game time in 2023, Gabelich did indicate that the 20-year-old defender is expected to remain at Tullamarine.
“He was, he had a great start to his AFL career,” he said.
“So there’s just a watch on what happens there. I think he’ll get another deal but it’s just been a slow burn.”
D’Ambrosio played eight games this season, adding to the eight he played at senior level last year.
Snelling, 26, has played 64 matches for the Bombers since being taken in the 2019 mid-season draft. He played 15 times under Brad Scott his year, averaging 11.4 disposals.
2021 rookie draftee Voss, 20, is yet to debut for the Dons.