Eades

[s'dreams]

Stood down indefinitely due to pending court action.

Oh dear.

[Rover99]

Oh God. Don't want to go off half cocked but it's a lottery isn't it and so tragic too. The journey from the bush to Melbourne is a million miles for some. Hope we give him the understanding and support he needs.

[nudder12]

what did he allegedly do?

[mdso]

what did he allegedly do?

The club are keeping that under wraps currently. It is a serious mater which will go to courts in the next couple of months. In the meantime he has been stood down pending court action. The club are supporting him.

[Windy_Hill]

This happens too often for it to be a coincidence. No one other than their immediate communities fully understand how difficult the transition is for a young indigenous footballer leaving their homes and travelling to a completely alien environment.

I suggest that tge AFL (God bless them) establish an ATSI Academy that takes on talented 15 to 18 year old players which includes their secondary education along with helping them to develop the life skills they will need going forward. They will then be so much better prepared to move interstate to an AFL club than currently is the case.

[Rover99]

Excellent suggestion Windy. We cant just ignore this. At the risk of sounding racist/patriarchal, the transition success rate is not good considering the numbers. There are so many ways they can fail, so many ways they can get into trouble. The money (and temptation) that suddenly comes into their hands is unthinkable. We need brave people to stand up and say, this is not working as it stands. Some kind of half-way house and longer term counselling follow up is necessary. Lets show them we care about their long term transition, assimilation to the city and long term success,

[j-mac31]

Yeah, no white AFL player ever went to court.

[mdso]

This happens too often for it to be a coincidence. No one other than their immediate communities fully understand how difficult the transition is for a young indigenous footballer leaving their homes and travelling to a completely alien environment.

I suggest that tge AFL (God bless them) establish an ATSI Academy that takes on talented 15 to 18 year old players which includes their secondary education along with helping them to develop the life skills they will need going forward. They will then be so much better prepared to move interstate to an AFL club than currently is the case.

Yes, I agree, its time for the AFL to step in and create an academy for young indigenous players. Billeting them with families who can support and guide them. Schooling and after school activities. Providing a place where young talented kids can get used to living away from home in a different way of life, not necessarily better but different. The AFL and the game will be poorer without their grace, creative flair and talent.

[s'dreams]

Bump

Yestin was delisted by the club today "to return home to WA to deal with a matter before the courts". I believe he attended court on 9 Feb for a mention hearing. A diversion hearing will be held in March.

From the Age.

Essendon and rookie Yestin Eades have parted ways by mutual agreement.

Eades will return to his family in Western Australia, in accordance with his wishes. An in-principle agreement has been reached between the Bombers and Eades' management.

Eades, who turned 20 last week, was stood down indefinitely by Essendon last month over a matter which is before the courts. Records show that Eades has a scheduled diversion hearing in relation to the matter at Broadmeadows Magistrates' court on March 27.

Despite his absence from the club's senior list, Eades had been training with the Bombers' VFL players, however it's understood that too was discontinued recently.

Initially from WA, Eades moved to Ballarat in 2014 before being selected by the Dons with pick 64 of the 2015 draft. After an underwhelming first year at the club in which he played 15 VFL games, Eades was delisted late in 2016 despite having a year to run on his contract, before being re-drafted by the club as a rookie.

His turbulent childhood - during which both his parents spent time in jail - has been well documented.

Essendon's general manager of football Rob Kerr said the Bombers were supportive of Eades' position.

"The club has worked extremely hard with Yestin before reaching this decision," Kerr said.

"During our conversations with Yestin it was clear just how important being with his family is to him, and we would never stand in his way of returning home to Western Australia.

"Yestin clearly has a number of challenges to work through, and the club, where possible, will continue to support him as he addresses these.

"We are disappointed we didn't get to see Yestin reach his playing potential at Essendon, but his priority now is to work on developing his life outside of football."

Eades' manager Ray Purcell of OMP Sports Management praised the Bombers for their support.

"From the outset we had a very positive and open dialogue with the club about some of the challenges facing Yestin moving forward," Purcell said.

"This was not an easy decision for Yestin to make, and he is very grateful the club understands the importance and sensitivities surrounding his decision to return home.

"The club has been very accommodating and shown genuine care for Yestin's well-being and long-term development.

"While Yestin still has some challenges ahead of him, he is extremely grateful for having the opportunity to develop as a person and footballer during his time at Essendon."

[F111]

Good luck to him.

[desmondo]

Good luck to him.

Yes good luck to him.

It would be a nice story for him IF he could get his life satisfactorily sorted, and he may even get to realise his footy potential.

[ealesy]

Joins the likes of Steinberg, Slattery, Hams and more in recent seasons to be dropped from the senior list to the rookie list and be a complete waste. This move has never worked and is stupid list management on our part.

I know he had a year to run on his contract and we would've had to pay him out if we delisted him, but we could've eaten it. I know the Club wanted to support and help him with his issues, he doesn't need to be on the list for us to do, as they've acknowledge saying in the statement today that they will still do what they can to help him.

During the commentary of last weeks practice match Disco said that Aaron Heppell was very close to getting a rookie spot but they only had one live pick and they needed a ruckman. Here is a bloke who has the will and determination to make it, had worked f****** hard on his game and has put together to very good VFL seasons and he was overlooked for a bloke who for whatever reason did not have the burning desire to make it at AFL level.

Seems like a waste to me, would've preferred for us to pick up Heppell or even given Hams another year on the rookie list, he at least showed the drive to get everything out of himself he could.

In summary, if we move anyone from the senior list to the rookie list again this season I will f****** scream.

The only time this has remotely worked for us was with Rama and they were fairly exceptional circumstances and even then, we he did come back he was nowhere near the player it looked like he was going to be.

[BenDoolan]

Joins the likes of Steinberg, Slattery, Hams and more in recent seasons to be dropped from the senior list to the rookie list and be a complete waste. This move has never worked and is stupid list management on our part.

I know he had a year to run on his contract and we would've had to pay him out if we delisted him, but we could've eaten it. I know the Club wanted to support and help him with his issues, he doesn't need to be on the list for us to do, as they've acknowledge saying in the statement today that they will still do what they can to help him.

During the commentary of last weeks practice match Disco said that Aaron Heppell was very close to getting a rookie spot but they only had one live pick and they needed a ruckman. Here is a bloke who has the will and determination to make it, had worked f****** hard on his game and has put together to very good VFL seasons and he was overlooked for a bloke who for whatever reason did not have the burning desire to make it at AFL level.

Seems like a waste to me, would've preferred for us to pick up Heppell or even given Hams another year on the rookie list, he at least showed the drive to get everything out of himself he could.

In summary, if we move anyone from the senior list to the rookie list again this season I will f****** scream.

The only time this has remotely worked for us was with Rama and they were fairly exceptional circumstances and even then, we he did come back he was nowhere near the player it looked like he was going to be.

Well said!

Amazed at the lack of expletives