THE FURIOUS bosses of SANFL clubs will meet with the league's general manager of football Adam Kelly at Adelaide Oval on Wednesday morning to be updated about Essendon's signing of SANFL players.
AFL.com.au understands Kelly will update the SANFL’s CEOs on player contracts and insurance after the Bombers approached SANFL-listed players to join their NAB Chalenge squad without contacting the clubs concerned.
The CEOs will be offered the opportunity to voice their concerns.
Essendon’s desire to protect the anonymity of the 18 or so players who are provisionally suspended due to the ASADA saga resulted in the 25 Bomber players who were at the club during 2012 agreeing to sit out the NAB Challenge.
On Tuesday afternoon, Essendon announced Woodville/West Torrens forward Jared Petrenko and North Adelaide's Mitch Clisby had verbally agreed to join its pre-season squad, alongside ex-Cat Mitch Brown, former Saint Clint Jones and ex-Demon James Magner.
Bombers may need three more top-up players
Both the Roosters and Eagles confirmed they were left in the dark by the Bombers and were told of the situation by Clisby and Petrenko.
Clisby, who returned to Prospect after being delisted by Melbourne last year, is in North Adelaide’s leadership group.
CEO Greg Edwards described Essendon's raids on SANFL talent as an "invasion".
"Essendon did not speak with us first, in fact, we still have not spoken to Essendon as at [Tuesday night]," Edwards said in a statement.
"We have been strong in our view that we are against this whole process, and that all SANFL clubs should be protected from such an invasion.
"We do not support the coercion of players from their clubs, where they have been part of a long summer campaign and fill vital roles, just to have them taken without notice.
"We have told Mitch that we will not stand in his way if he chooses to go to Essendon for the NAB (Challenge) series, even though we have made a strong stance to the SANFL against the process."
Eagles coach Michael Godden told The Advertiser his club had faced the same situation as Edwards in regard to former Adelaide forward Petrenko.
“We know Essendon contacted Jared (Petrenko) because Jared told us, and Essendon contacted us after the event,” Godden said.
“But we actually don’t know anything in terms of details.
“As a football club we would not stand in anyone’s way to better themselves, but the club and player’s best interests must be protected.
“And right now we have zero information.”
Later on Wednesday, Essendon apologised to the SANFL clubs for its lack of communication.
