While the ladder indicates Essendon has recorded two ‘wins’ this season, Essendon Coach John Worsfold says off-field victories have provided the Club’s resurgence with added momentum.

Michael Hurley is one such example with the All-Australian defender agreeing to a new deal with the Club next season.

He became the eighth player to recommit, joining fellow All-Australians Dyson Heppell and Cale Hooker as well as Heath Hocking, Travis Colyer, David Myers, Tom Bellchambers and Brent Stanton.

“It is another win for us in a year that we’re not winning the four points too often on the field, but we have made a lot of good wins off the field,” Worsfold told Triple M.

“We’ve got our crop of young players led by Dyson Heppell – who I still class as one of our young players – and followed by Joe Daniher, Zach Merrett, Darcy Parish and Aaron Francis from last year’s draft, Orazio Fantasia.

“There is a crew there that is going to play a lot of footy together over the next six or seven years.

“Bringing back Hooker, Hurley and we’re still hopeful that Jobe is going to want to kick around again next year – the experience that we’ll have in the team next year means that we think we’ll have a really strong squad.

“It’s an exciting era for the Club that we’re heading in to.”

Worsfold said the more than 57,000 Essendon members had played a crucial role in getting the players through the season.

“They’ve been magnificent.  I’ve really appreciated their support this year because we do get down after every loss, we all feel it, but the fans have stood there and acknowledged they believe the players have been putting in,” Worsfold said.

“They’ve stood there and clapped them off the ground.

“They’re going to be a part of the resurgence of the Essendon Football Club over the coming years.”

The confirmation of Hurley’s recommitment won’t hasten discussions with other players with the Bombers still keen for them to take the time they need.

Worsfold said he’s been in contact with Jobe Watson in recent weeks, including after last week’s win when Watson sent his Coach a congratulatory message.

“He’s still training, he’s still really committed to maintaining his fitness at an elite level,” Worsfold said.

“That to me says there is an itch still there, that he’s got some unfinished business.

“I’m hopeful and I’d love him to be back.

“Seeing what we’re rebuilding at Essendon, it would be great to have him part of it, but that’ll be up to Jobe.”

Ben Howlett, Tayte Pears and Michael Hibberd round out the group of 12.

With reports Hibberd is attracting interest from at least one other club, Worsfold said the Bombers offer an attractive football home.

“I’m hopeful that with what he’s seeing with what’s happening at Essendon, what he’s hearing from his teammates – it would be pretty hard to say that he’s going to go somewhere where it’s better than it is at Essendon,” he said.

“I think that holds us in good stead, but that’s up to Michael.”