If Hurley came for free (trade wise) I'd be rapt to get him, but I think it's a long shot this year. Even if he did decide to walk out I expect a trade to get done similar to Ryder. We need all our high draft picks for mids from now on IMO, but Hurley would be a sneaky bonus if it did happen to come off. I won't be holding my breath though.
Robbo on Hurley and Essendon contracts
Joshua Papanikolaou | 11 Mar 2016, 05:06PM
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It is unlikely that the AFL will allow multiple players to cancel their contracts at Essendon and leave the club as free agents without compensation after serving their 12-month drugs ban, says Mark Robinson.
Twelve players at the Bombers are serving bans for their part in the supplements saga and the club is facing the prospect of them filing a request to the league’s grievance tribunal to have their contracts waived if they wish to leave.
“Clubs are aware and player managers are aware and Essendon are aware, even though Essendon have denied that they can do it,” said Robinson on SEN radio.
“This is going to get really, really complex. Essendon don’t think, in my understanding, Essendon don’t believe that these players can walk from the club.
“Now there’s people at the Players Association saying hmmm I don’t know about that.”
Speculation is already surrounding key defender Michael Hurley with talk that Richmond will prepare to offer him a lucrative contract if he wishes to leave the Bombers.
“My belief is that Michael Hurley will probably be at Essendon,” said Robinson.
“But there’s people who say he was 100 per cent six weeks ago, but he’s not 100 per cent anymore. Because life changes, thinking comes in.
“Now I think that Jobe Watson’s going to stay. No doubt I think Dyson Heppell is going to stay.”
It would be catastrophic if senior players such as Heppell, Hooker or Hurley left the Bombers and it would set the club back even further than the ramifications of their supplements program from 2012.
“If a player decides I want to leave, there’s this avenue. And if that avenue happens, I’ll give you my opinion rather that what’s going to happen because it’s very complex,” explained Robinson.
“Will the AFL you think allow 12 players, for example, to become de-listed free agents and walk out on that football club. Because you reckon the suspension – do you think the suspension of 12 players this year has hurt the club? No doubt.
“If six of those players could walk out of the club for nothing and they don’t get any draft picks back they walk out for free.
“You reckon Essendon are down for eight years, Essendon will be down for 15. Now does the AFL want that?”
Read more at
http://www.sen.com.au/news/03-16/robbo-on-hurley-and-essendon-contracts#Wy2qBP7TxAsIAZcd.99