Bomber James Stewart playing VFL but set to sign contract extension
Jon Ralph, Herald Sun
August 8, 2018 4:48pm
ESSENDON forward James Stewart will sign a new two year deal in coming days despite being shut out of AFL action since Round 11.
The former GWS forward started the season in a blaze of glory with 10 goals in the first four games but gradually faded in form as Shaun McKernan rose in prominence in the Essendon front six.
Stewart has also battled a painful heel injury and will next year have to fight for his spot alongside the resurgent Mitch Brown, Joe Daniher and McKernan, who is certain to sign his own contract extension.
The Bombers have had a deal on the table for some time but Stewart is this week expected to sign a deal worth around $400,000 a season.
His manager Peter Jess told the Herald Sun today: “We are working towards getting it done in the very near future”.
Essendon's James Stewart
It comes as coach John Worsfold made clear the club’s aggressive attitude as they seek to secure another strong-bodied inside midfielder.
Western Bulldog Mitch Wallis has been offered a new deal at the Dogs but Essendon are interested in a tough clearance winner who has also booted 18 goals this year, kicking at least one goal in all but two of his games.
At the Whitten Oval, Dale Morris will sign a new one-year extension at season’s end as he this week prepares for his 250th senior game.
Morris has been one of the most courageous players in the AFL and also a popular figure at the Dogs, this year returning despite a frayed ACL that could have ended his career.
Both he and coach Luke Beveridge are on the same page about him continuing on but happy to wait until season’s end for a deal for Morris, 36 in December.
The Dogs continue to work on a long-term deal of up to five years for Marcus Bontempelli, and also need to secure free agents Luke Dahlhaus, Tom Liberatore and Jordan Roughead.