VFL: Hately joins Bombers

Former Adelaide midfielder Jackson Hatily has signed for VFL side Essendon for the 2024 season.
The 23-year-old joins recent recruit Xavier O’Neill and new VFL senior coach Blake Caracella in commitment Join the Bombers for the upcoming season.
Hatily is happy to continue her career in the red and black shirt.

“The club is fantastic, the facilities are great.
I was really excited to get into it,” Hately said.
“Having spoken to Essendon over the last few weeks, I felt this was the best opportunity for me on the field.
There’s a feeling of wanting to create a really strong VFL program and that’s what I want to achieve.
“I’m really excited to play my best football here.
” Standing at 191cm tall, Hatily’s powerful build complements his formidable inside game, highlighted by a dominant 2023 SANFL season which saw him win the Crows’ SANFL club championship and brought home the title of the year.
Originally drafted by the Giants with the 14th pick in the 2018 draft, Hately logged 13 games over two seasons before requesting a move to Adelaide ahead of the 2021 season.
A performance A career-best performance against the Cats in round 11 of the 2022 season saw Hatily collect 27 disposals and make eight tackles, demonstrating his potential as a player.
compete.
Hately averaged 17 tackles per game in 15 games with the Crows, impressing with limited opportunities in midfield during his three years with the club.
Still young in his career, Hatily will provide an important physical presence to Essendon’s VFL midfield in 2024.

 

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Essendon recruit denies big-money move was leading lure in North Melbourne exit

“Coming from North where we were a young group and didn’t have too much success…”

Essendon recruit Ben McKay has stated “it’s exciting” to be with a team that “has some pressure” to face while noting his move to the Bombers wasn’t only for monetary reasons.

McKay was the headline name in this year’s free agency movement space, departing North Melbourne for a move to Victorian rivals Essendon on a deal set at six years and reportedly worth $800,000 per season.

The 25-year-old left the Kangaroos after a difficult eight years at Arden Street, where McKay recorded eight wins from 71 games – managing just one season with 20 or more matches due to a string of injury setbacks.

The key defender has joined a side that will press its case for a top eight finish in 2024, with the Bombers rocketing into September contention before a late season fade under McKay’s old North Melbourne mentor, Brad Scott.

Speaking to 7 News, McKay said the thought of challenging for finals, and the pressure that comes with contending, is a tantalising prospect for 2024 and beyond after years spent in the bottom half of the competition with the Roos.

“Essendon are right there, I think they’re right around the corner from having success,” McKay said.

“The expectation is a privilege I think. Coming from North where we were a young group and didn’t have too much success, we were on a different journey.

“But it’s exciting to be on a team that has some pressure on it.”

McKay is said to be in line to earn close to $1.5 million in his first year for the Dons as part of a heavily front-ended contract. That figure will see him likely placed as the top earner in the competition for 2024.

While McKay didn’t make the move to Tullamarine for the pay load, he does understand that lucrative figures and the subsequent expectations can come with new deals.

“The main reason I came to Essendon wasn’t money,” McKay said.

“It’s a part of the industry that these things come out a little bit.”

McKay didn’t play against his twin brother and Coleman Medal winner Harry during his eight seasons in the blue and white, with injury, suspension or form limiting the pair from facing off.

The streak has now reached game games where one of the McKay brothers weren’t available to play against their sibling, with the first edition of the much-anticipated matchup potentially coming between Carlton and Essendon, instead of the Blues and Roos.

The Bombers are expected to face the Blues on the King’s Birthday eve match at the MCG, with their first potential clash likely to come in front of a near-sold-out crowd.

“It’s about this time of the year when that noise starts to pick up again,” McKay said of the talk around a matchup between him and his brother.

I think it’ll be exciting. King’s Birthday (eve) in front of 90,000. It’ll be good to bring [the streak] up again. Hopefully it happens, but I wouldn’t hold your breath.”

McKay was one of four new recruits for Essendon this off-season, with the Bombers also acquiring free agent pair Jade Gresham and Todd Goldstein as well as Port Adelaide wingman Xavier Duursma.