Essendon is holding firm on its star defender, Jordan Ridley, who has requested a trade to Brisbane despite being under a long-term contract.
According to Nine’s chief AFL reporter, Tom Morris, Ridley raised the idea of a move during his exit meeting with the club last week.
While Essendon quickly shut down the request, Ridley remains keen on a trade, with Brisbane his preferred destination.
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Jordan Ridley has signed a mega contract extension with Essendon. AFL Photos via Getty Images
“Although Essendon will publicly say that Jordan Ridley is committed for 2026, I can tell you tonight that he is not,” Morris told 9News Melbourne on Sunday night.
The Lions are aware of Ridley’s desire to move north.
The news comes as a surprise after Ridley extended with the Bombers only last year, inking a three-year extension to tie him to the club until the end of 2029.
Morris says that the Bombers consider Ridley an integral part of their future plans.
The 2020 best-and-fairest winner has reportedly grown frustrated with the club’s injury management.
Ridley has endured an injury-riddled run over the past two seasons, in which he has been hampered by persistent soft tissue injuries, including several quad, hip flexor and hamstring complaints.
After playing in 20 games in 2022, the 26-year-old was restricted to just nine games in 2024 and 10 games this season as he battled three significant hamstring injuries.
Ridley’s concerns about Essendon’s injury management are believed to stem from the club’s broader injury crisis this season, which points to a systemic problem.
The Bombers have committed to overhauling their fitness staff in the off-season, following the departure of high-performance boss Sean Murphy earlier in the year.
A desire to be closer to family in Queensland is also understood to be a key factor in Ridley’s decision.
The Lions are expected to be major players in the upcoming trade period, with reports linking them to several key players, including the Eagles’ Oscar Allen.
Given Ridley’s history of soft-tissue issues, Brisbane may be an ideal landing place given the club’s strong record of rehabilitating injury-prone players.
Ridley’s manager, Nick Geeshan, was tight-lipped about the situation but confirmed his client has been frustrated with the club’s high-performance program.
Although Essendon is currently resisting the trade with Ridley contracted for another four seasons, the Bombers are in a strong position and are under no obligation to trade him unless they receive a substantial offer.