Bomber looks at trade options
Essendon coach James Hird says defender Henry Slattery is assessing his future at the club
ESSENDON defender Henry Slattery could be one of the first players to make way as the Bombers fit Brendon Goddard into their salary cap.
Goddard's signing at Essendon via Gillette AFL Free Agency period last Monday has cast doubt over the future of several out-of-contract Bombers, with coach James Hird telling AFL.com.au's Trade Radio that Slattery was exploring his options.
"Henry we'll assess as the trade period goes on. I think Henry has expressed to us that maybe there are some other options and he'd like to go down that path," Hird told Trade Week Radio on Wednesday.
"We'll have a chat with him and see as the trade period goes on what is available."
Hird said the Bombers were keen to keep Angus Monfries, who is understood to be considering an offer from Port Adelaide, while Scott Gumbleton is also considering a new deal with the Bombers.
"Gus (Monfries) has got a contract in front of him, a contract we think is a very good contract," Hird said.
"We still want Gus to stay, he is a big part of our footy club and has been for seven or eight years. He is a player I don't want to lose and the football club doesn't either.
"(And) we'd like Scott to stay, we put a contract in front of him and we are very hopeful that he'll sign that contract."
Hird said David Hille is considering a contract, while Alwyn Davey, Ricky Dyson and Nathan Lovett-Murray were also players he wished to keep.
Hird was less positive when asked about Kyle Reimers, who played just five games this season for a career total of 60.
"Kyle's an Essendon player and he's out of contract," Hird said.
"We'll sit down with Kyle probably in the next week or two and work out what he wants to do and what we want to do. At the moment he is a required player."
Slattery played two games this season for a career total of 96 since making his debut in 2005.
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Luke Holmesby is a reporter for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter - @AFL_Luke