ESSENDON won't waste any emotional energy fretting about the future of star forwards Joe Daniher and Orazio Fantasia, coach John Worsfold says.
The gun pair were strongly linked with moves to Sydney and Port Adelaide, respectively, in last year's dramatic Telstra AFL Trade Period before staying put at Tullamarine.
Daniher, a restricted free agent this year, unsuccessfully requested a trade to the Swans but the two clubs never came close to agreeing to what would have been a blockbuster trade.
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It came after the soon-to-be 26-year-old managed only 11 games across the past two seasons because of a nagging groin issue that still has him on limited duties.
Worsfold and co. are reluctant to put a timeframe on Daniher's return but he won't play in round one and likely for some time beyond that.
Daniher told reporters in November that frustration at his horror injury run was the main reason for his shock trade request.
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His contract status is certain to be one of the AFL's major talking points in 2020 but Worsfold was adamant it would not be a distraction.
"There's no use putting time and energy into something that will take care of itself down the track," Worsfold told AFL.com.au.
"The fact it will be written about and spoken about; we'll just deal with it. We'll tell all the players, 'This is the situation, if you get asked a question, answer it – no dramas at all'.
"We would love Joey to be playing at Essendon next year but if he is not, then it's not the end of the world.
"Buddy (Lance Franklin) left Hawthorn, and 'Gaz' (Gary Ablett) left Geelong – life goes on.
"We understand Joe's a big name, he's a wonderful young man and a super footballer. Our focus is on getting him back and giving him a chance to play footy."
Worsfold had similar sentiments about Fantasia, who's had his own injury setbacks, although not to the same extent as Daniher.
Fantasia underwent post-season hip surgery and turned down the chance to again be part of the Bombers' leadership group, so he could focus on his own health.
He is contracted until the end of 2021, when he will be a free agent, but there is a developing trend in the AFL of players being traded in their 'pre-agent' year to gain maximum value.
Fantasia switched managers to Michael Doughty, of TLA Australia, during the Trade Period but elected to delay a return to South Australia for at least one more year.
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The nature of his contract, where he will receive significantly less money this year than he did in 2019 and will next season, is believed to be among the reasons for that decision.
This isn't the first time in Worsfold's coaching career he's dealt with a big-name player's potential exit, with Brownlow medallist Chris Judd leaving the Eagles for Carlton at the end of 2007.
The 2006 premiership coach said Essendon's list management team would handle whatever eventuated with Daniher and Fantasia the same way West Coast did with Judd.
"You look at it as a business. We don't just look at it and say, 'We hope Joey's still here and we hope Orazio's still at the club'," Worsfold said.
"We look at it as though, if they are (staying), great, but if they're not – what do we need to do?
"If one of them leaves at the end of one year, what have we got in place? Who's available, what have we explored, have we had discussions? Basically, we just do a job – and players understand that.
"Whether it's a great player or a player just hanging in on your list, you're often saying … 'Are they more value to us on our list or to another club on their list, who need a player like that and will value them more highly than us, which helps us shore up our squad moving forward."
