Bombers best and fairest inks long-term contract, wrecks shoulder

Essendon forward Peter Wright has put pen to paper to re-sign with the club for a further four years, right before a shoulder injury during training that looks to have sidelined him for the first half of the season.

Wright was already contracted until the end of 2023, but his new deal sees him through until the end of the 2027 campaign.

Coming off a 53-goal season, the Bombers will be relieved to secure Wright’s services and the 26-year-old said he was extremely grateful to extend his time at the club.

“I’ve loved my time so far at the Bombers and am extremely grateful to the club for the opportunity,” he said.

“I am especially grateful for the time both players and coaches have put in to help me continue to develop as a player and a person at the club.

“I’m very excited about the direction that Brad is taking us, and this Sunday is a great opportunity to take the first step and put into practice the work we have done over the pre-season.

“We’ve got a young and exciting list that I am excited to build and grow with. But we know there is a lot of hard work ahead for us to ensure that we get where we aspire to be. I’m looking forward to that challenge.”

After winning the Crichton Medal for best and fairest in 2022, Essendon list manager Adrian Dodoro was thrilled to secure the vital signature.

“Pete is a very important part of our side. He provides a fantastic target up forward, with strong marking and goalkicking ability,” Dodoro said.

“He is extremely dedicated and has excellent work ethic. Pete is constantly striving to improve, evident in his growth over the past two years.

“At 26 years of age, Pete is a long-term player for our club who will play a key role in this young group moving forward in the years to come.”

However, it wasn’t all good news for Wright ahead of the Bombers’ first game against Hawthorn on Sunday.

He’s expected to be sidelined for the first half of the season with the shoulder injury he sustained at training.

After the key forward had scans on Friday afternoon, the decision was made that Wright will have to undergo surgery, scheduled for this week.

General Manager of Performance Daniel McPherson said in a statement that Essendon will be cautious with Wright’s recovery.

“We’re really disappointed for Pete. He has had a terrific pre-season, and was in great shape leading into Sunday,” he said.

“The results of yesterday’s scan indicate surgery is required to properly repair the injury.

“Pete is an incredibly important part of our future, so we’ll take the necessary time to get this right, and we’ll look forward to welcoming him back into the team in the second half of the season.”

Wright was playing the best footy of his career in 2022, kicking 53 goals across 22 games.

– BY SEN