Essendon has “serious concern” over the treatment of an outgoing favorite and concerns about the team’s future could lead to one of their brightest stars coming out the door.
Veteran ruckman Tom Bellchambers announced his retirement last week but was not selected for a farewell game in the Bombers’ 18th round against Melbourne – which was dead rubber for them as the final was out of the question.
It did so despite the fact that Bellchambers was fully available – he only played seven games in another injury-related season – and according to Leigh Montagna, the St. Kilda champion, it left some veteran bombers with a “bitter taste”.
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“I was disappointed with it. Tom Bellchambers, he’s not a four-time premier or multiple All-Australian, but he’s one of the most popular players in this football club. What he went through when he went through that drug crisis, I just thought that Essendon was missing a trick on this, ”Montagna said of Fox Footy’s The first crack.
“With a club that is still trying to find its identity and build its brand on the back of the drug saga. A player like this who meant so much and was fit and available, I think they could really have played him and made a huge difference to this football club.
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“I understand that it left a bitter taste in many of the player’s mouths who played a lot of footy with Tom Bellchambers. He thought, wait a minute, why wouldn’t you leave him and your stars the right way? and play him in his last game? And now there is a little fear.
“You missed a trick, we saw it on Kade Simpson (at Carlton) and the Hawks too. It can actually be a wonderful moment in a player’s career and for someone like Tom Bellchambers who has been through so much it would have been nice to have played him in a game with no final on the line and just went out the right way too be. “
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The decision and a number of other burning issues, including the disappointing season, left many players frustrated, according to Essendon Foxfooty.com.au senior reporter Tom Morris.
In the bad form of the team, in which the Bombers had only won one of their last 10 games after a 5-2 start to the season, Adam Saad, who finished third and best in a second season in a row, was able to leave the club.
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“To the best of my knowledge there is some serious unrest in Essendon right now. It’s reflected outside the club and it’s the same inside the club, ”said Morris The first crack.
“The best example I can give next to Tom Bellchambers is Adam Saad – who is an absolute professional, has missed a game in three years and has a four-year offer on the table for him.
“But he hasn’t re-signed and I think that’s because at this point he doesn’t feel – he might be convinced, but at this point – that the club is going in a way that will see them in the win a flag for years to come.
“Who knows what will happen to (Orazio) Fantasia, who knows what will happen to (Joe) Daniher, maybe there are other players too.
“There is a lot of turmoil there and I wouldn’t be surprised if there were some serious changes to the game list and coaching system in the off-season, reflecting a club that, although not had a terrible season, was way below what they expected. “
Montagna made it clear that the decision not to play Bellchambers in the final round of the season has nothing to do with the availability of injuries.
“He had made himself fit and available, he was right to play but last week he was told no we are not going to pick you,” he said.
“I think there was some conversation, some locker room chat, and a few words about why isn’t he playing? This guy who was one of the most popular players in this club and has been through so much.
“You wonder how that works and it will sit in the mouths of some players in the summer.”
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