ESSENDON midfielder Brent Stanton insists he wants to be a one-club player despite not yet having put pen to paper on a new contract.

The 29-year-old becomes a free agent at the end of the season.

Stanton said there was no rush in securing a new deal with the Bombers, and he was confident he could play on for a 13th season.

"My manager and the football club will be talking through that, so we'll see what happens," Stanton told reporters on Monday.

"I'm in no hurry and I suppose the football club is in no hurry. It will happen whenever it happens. That's something I'm comfortable with and the football club is comfortable with.

"My body is feeling good, the mind is fresh … I'll keep soldiering on."

The veteran Bomber said he was committed to staying at Tullamarine despite being able to explore his options as a free agent.

"I've always wanted to be a one-club player," Stanton said.

"I've spent probably just under half my life here. It's a part of me and it's a fantastic club to be a part of. I've built a lot of good friendships, not only players but staff as well."

Despite the long running supplements saga likely to extend into a fourth year with the Court of Arbitration for Sport yet to set a date for the WADA appeal, Stanton was optimistic about the future growth of the list.

He said he didn't believe Essendon's off-field situation would deter free agents and out-of-contract opposition players from joining the club, and was confident the Bombers would once again become a powerhouse in the competition.

"I think you’ve seen Adam Cooney and the likes of those sorts of players come here," Stanton said.

"Paul Chapman, a premiership player, came here in the middle of the whole saga. It's been a great football club for a long time; the history is still there.

"Yes, it might be a little bit of a bleak period at the moment, but I have no doubts this club will get back to the top at some stage.

"We'll go through the process of working that out, but the onus is on the playing group, coaching staff and the senior department as well.

"It is an exciting group to be a part of … it's going to be an exciting future."