A: “It is a relief. It hasn’t been something I have been too worried about. I knew I was a required player and it is great to know my next three years are secure.”

Q: Does that make you a Bomber for life?

A: “Since the first day I arrived at Essendon, I’ve never thought I would like to play for somebody else. I know things can change in football but it has never crossed my mind.

Q: Did the negotiations progress smoothly?

A: “I wanted to play for Essendon and they wanted me to play for Essendon – there was no reason to hold out. Both of us were happy with what was worked out. As you get the end of the season there is a lot of speculation that can arise and I never wanted to be a part of that with other clubs being involved.

Q: Do you hope this will be the catalyst for other players to sign?

“In two or three years time, I’m not sure where the 1993 guys will be at in their careers, and I will be one of the players who has been around the longest. I’m sure guys like the Johnsons and Solomons – they are the guys I am looking forward to signing in the coming weeks or months.”

Q: Did it bother you that this has taken a while to work out?

A: “This is my ninth year and not being signed up hasn’t worried me one bit. I’m glad it is finalised and it is something that I don’t have to think about for another three years.”

Q: This contract will take you through to life membership?

A: “At the end of next year it will be 10 years- I got here as a 16-year-old. It has been a fantastic time at the club.”

Q: Sean Wellman has signed as well – that’s great news?

A: “He is guy that probably doesn’t get too much credit but certainly a guy you love having in the side. He will probably finish his career at Essendon now which is great.”

Q: Was the internet deal part of the negotiations?

A: “I didn’t factor that in at all – it was a normal negotiation between my management and the football club. It (the internet deal) isn’t something that I have even thought about. It is something being worked out between Peter (Jackson) and my management and that is all I want to say on that issue.

Q: Did what happened at the end of last year play on your mind?

A: “We got ourselves into a situation last year that was unfortunate. At no stage did I want to sign a contract that would cost guys I have played all my careers with their futures. I don’t know the club’s financial situation. I know nobody wants to leave Essendon because we are pretty spoiled there and I’m sure they will sign soon. I’d like to think I have never been like that (greedy) and I know Sean Wellman is not like that either. You just have to see what your worth and be happy with that and go for that – if you are lucky enough to get that, as I was, you should be happy. Hopefully the guys yet to sign will get the same outcome. Three premiership players left last year and Melbourne was in the same situation with (Shane) Woewodin. And there might be more cases of that at the end of this year but hopefully not at out club.

Q: It is a big game against Fremantle?

A: “It is a huge game – no-one would have thought this would be such a big game. I think whoever wins this will finish higher than the other team on the ladder which is all-important so that is what we are playing for.

Q: What do you think about the comparisons between James Hird and Matthew Pavlich?

“He is a rising star but I don’t know if he is there at the moment – you have blokes like Michael Voss and Nathan Buckley who have been doing it for 10 years. Having said that he is dominating games at a young age and not many before him have been able to do that – we will definitely have to factor him into our planning.

“You can’t go past what Hirdy has done over a long period of time. I think Matthew would have to do that for another four or five years before he has got to Hirdy’s standard. Hirdy has had to go through a fair bit in his career being written off and coming back. I don’t think the players care whether the finals are in Melbourne or not – they just want to be there.”