Joe Daniher and the current playing list are keeping in regular contact with Essendon’s banned players, including Michael Hurley and Jobe Watson.
Speaking on Fox Footy’s On the Couch on Monday night, Daniher said he was in touch with the players, many of which are abroad taking in the northern summer.
Michael Hurley and his wild beard made quite the impact on social media last week when the defender appeared in photos along with Cale Hooker, Michael Hibberd and Tom Bellchambers.
“He (Hurley) made the promise to keep the beard untouched until he comes back; it’s good to see he’s kept that. He’s got the puppy fat but he’s probably as fit as a fiddle,” Daniher said.
“We have regular contact with all the guys, they are enjoying a well earned break over there at the moment but they have done a fair block of training too.
“They are having a break now and they will come back early September ready to go.”
While Hurley, Hooker, Hibberd, Bellchambers and others such as Dyson Heppell are enjoying the sights of Europe, former skipper Jobe Watson is in New York honing his barista skills.
The emerging leader is in regular contact with the former skipper.
“I’ve had regular contact with Jobe, he’s never far away asking me how I’m going and checking in on me which is fantastic,” he said.
“As far as it goes with his footy I’m really happy with how the club is handling it and giving him room to make a decision (on next year).
“All we want from Jobe is for him to make a decision that he is really comfortable with and I’m sure that’s not too far away.”
While Daniher is looking forward to welcoming his banned teammates back to the fold, he and other young players are determined to make the club a stronger and more professional culture than what they left in January.
“Hopefully when we get to that preseason they are really excited by how far we have come,” he said.
Of the 12 players banned, six are yet to inform the club of their intentions for 2017 and beyond including Hurley, Watson, Hibberd, Ben Howlett, Brent Stanton and Tayte Pears.
