Essendon coach James Hird is confident a number of key players will re-sign with the club before the end of the season.

Tom Bellchambers, Stewart Crameri and Tayte Pears are among the Bombers that are coming out of contract.

“I think every club that is trying to get somewhere has good players who are trying to get re-signed and we are no different,” Hird said.

“We have got three or four players who are very good players that we are trying to get re-signed and I am sure that will happen very shortly.”

Hird said the club was hopeful of re-signing Bellchambers despite recent media reports he was to be offered a deal from Greater Western Sydney.

“He won’t get squeezed out from our point of view as we hold Tom in very high regard,” he said.

“He is an excellent ruckman, an excellent person around our club and we want to sign him up and are very keen to get that done as soon as we can.”

Crameri, the club’s leading goal kicker with 28 goals, is also expected to re-commit to the club despite reports of interest form other club’s.

“Stew is a great person, terrific player and we definitely want to keep him.”

“We are going to work very hard to keep him and I think he wants to stay here so we will work towards that over the next few weeks.”