Bombers take Michael Hibberd and Heath Hocking off the table
ESSENDON has confirmed the re-signing of star pair Michael Hibberd and Heath Hocking.
Hibberd has signed a three-year contract extension and Hocking has signed on for another two years.
Hibberd, 24, told Bomber TV despite significant offers to lure him away he wanted to stay with his mates.
"This club has stood by me throughout my career, they gave me my chance to play AFL footy and I couldn't see myself playing anywhere else," Hibberd said.
"I've got a lot of good mates here, we're a tight group and we want to play and win finals.
"We definitely believe we have the ability and the talent but that can only get you so far. It's about consistent effort and we know we have to perform if we want to be a part of a successful era at the club.
"It wasn't a tough decision to stay here. I love the club and I love the boys and we're really on the right track and going in the right direction.
"It took a while to get there but now that I'm here for another three years, it's awesome."
Hocking, a senior leader of the club, echoed the sentiment of his teammate.
"I'm really proud to play for this great club, a club I supported since I was a kid. To 'live the dream' everyday is obviously a great honour and one I don’t take for granted," he said.
The Bombers are going through a tough time with 34 past and present players issued with show-cause notices by ASADA.
The club's legal battle will hot up this Friday when it takes ASADA to the Federal Court to seek a permanent injunction on the joint investigation with the AFL into its 2012 supplements program.
Coach Mark Thompson said the fact the duo had shown such loyalty to pen new deals was significant when looking at the bigger picture.
"The ability to retain this team of players is a great sign of the strength and direction of our club," Thompson said.
"Hibbo and Heath are important leaders for the football club and it's great to see them re-sign.
"Hibbo is in terrific form, the best form of his career, and Heath is just a competitor, a fierce competitor, who hates losing. In fact, they both hate losing.
"Our players have the best facility, and our job is to give them the opportunity to be the best at what they do.
"I think it's great to see this talented and resilient group of young men develop and mature together."
Hibberd, who wants to develop his leadership over the next three years, said there was no evidence players wanted to leave the club.
"Everyone wants to stick together and Heath signing and myself and the guys over the last 12 months, it's a sign that inside the footy club, we're sticking together," he said.
"You can say whatever you want on the outside but here in the depths of the footy club, we know what we want to achieve and we're sticking together to do that."
Hibberd believes he will prove his fitness to face Geelong on Friday night after hurting his foot against Adelaide on the weekend.
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