Carlisle's contract complicated

Jake Carlisle’s contract talks have effectively stalled.

Essendon is due to meet with his manager Anthony McConville on Thursday.

But if McConville’s position today is any indication, I’m not overly confident they’ll be much progress when they meet.

Originally Carlisle didn’t want to re-commit before the tribunal decision. And while that decision was favorable for Essendon, with an ASADA and WADA appeal still possible, as far as Carlisle’s concerned, the issues still unresolved.

Carlisle also wants to ‘concentrate on footy’, and let his footy do the talking, before turning his mind to finalising any deal.

While this type of position can raise alarm bells from a club perspective, I don’t think Essendon fans have anything to worry about just yet.

There’s productive dialogue between Bombers recruiting guru Adrian Dodoro and McConville, and I sense Dodoro is quietly confident the deal will eventually get done.

Essendon won’t pay overs. And it’s not perfectly clear what Carlisle is worth. At his best, probably close to his circa $750,000 asking price. But the forward’s form does fluctuate, his four possessions against Sydney a perfect indication.

Much like Carlisle’s form, negotiation’s over the enigmatic forward will ebb and flow before a deal’s finalized, but I expect Tom Bellchamber’s deal to be more clear cut.

Their number one ruckman is out of contract at the end of the year, and finalising a deal is also high on Dodoro’s priority list.

With some clear air post tribunal, their recuiting team will also ramp up those negotiations this week.