Star Essendon defender Jordan Ridley reportedly dropped a bombshell at his exit meeting, declaring he “wants to leave” — and he “ideally” wants to move to the reigning premiers.
Ridley is contracted through the 2029 season, but according to Nine’s Tom Morris on Sunday, the prolific intercept defender wants out of the Bombers, desiring a move to the Brisbane Lions.
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Morris reported that Ridley, a club champion but injury-riddled in recent seasons, has grown “frustrated” with the club’s injury management.
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“He raised the prospect of a trade in his exit meeting last week, and it was shut down,” Morris wrote on social media platform X on Sunday afternoon.
“This long-term deal won’t stop him trying to move. The 2020 best and fairest has been frustrated at the club’s injury management, and he has family connections in Queensland.”
The 26-year-old, who has been the victim of repeated hamstring injuries, played just 10 AFL games this year after nine in 2024. He hasn’t played more than 20 senior matches in a season since 2022.
If Ridley was able to force his way to the Lions, it’d be yet another major recruiting coup for the 2024 flag-winners, who’ve already informally secured Oscar Allen’s services and are one of the front-runners to sign Sam Draper.
The 2016 second-round pick’s best season came in 2020, when he played all 17 games of the COVID-affected campaign to win a Crichton Medal and be selected to the All-Australian squad.
After just 26 senior games, he became the third least-experienced player in the club’s history to win its best and fairest.
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