Flag for Dons still the goal for Worsfold

JOHN Worsfold will begin contract extension talks with Essendon in February.

A new deal could be secured before the start of next season with the Bombers coach confirming that a sit-down with chief executive Xavier Campbell was already locked into his diary.

His three-year deal is set to expire at the end of next season but he has declared that he “absolutely” wants to remain at The Hangar.

“Xavier and I have already diarised early February. It’s actually in my calendar to sit down and start to get around that stuff,” Worsfold said.

“My aim here is to be part of Essendon’s next premiership, so hopefully that means you only need a one-year deal. But if it takes longer, we’ll put the work in to do that.”

Essendon captain Dyson Heppell backed Worsfold’s vision and said the coach has his charges on track to build toward a flag.

Key recruit Jake Stringer has impressed in his first few weeks as a Bomber, but Worsfold said that no player, the former Bulldog included, was locked in to play in Round 1.

The 2016 premiership forward was traded to the club in October and has been training with the midfield group this pre-season. But nothing was guaranteed, Worsfold said, with a seamless summer the key to the 23-year-old earning a berth.

“He’s training really well. We know his unique attributes as a player and we’re seeing them on the training track already,” Worsfold, 49, said.

“We’ve been really impressed with his midfield stoppage work as well, so it’s exciting.

“I wouldn’t say anyone is a Round 1 lock. We’ve got a pretty talented squad now and everyone is training really well.

“I would expect that if he’s had a really solid pre-season and doesn’t miss a beat, that he would be in our best team.”

Stringer has dropped 4kg over the off-season.

“We’ve seen his ability,” Heppell said. “He’s been working a fair bit with the midfield group and he’s got that strong body and power around the ball, so I think that’ll add a real (extra) element to the group.”

Heppell also said Stringer, who played 89 games for the Western Bulldogs, had been speaking up in meetings and offering plenty off-field, with “a few dinners” helping him and other new additions to the team settle into the group.

Essendon yesterday announced its Tullamarine headquarters has been renamed The Hangar.