ESSENDON coach John Worsfold has told suspended skipper Jobe Watson to only return to the club if he can put his "heart and soul" back into playing.

Watson and 11 of his Bombers-listed teammates were handed 12-month bans by the Court of Arbitration for Sport for their involvement in the controversial 2012 supplements regime.

The 31-year-old, who is currently on an overseas holiday, is yet to make public his intentions for next season.

Worsfold said he had not persuaded Watson to return to the Bombers in a recent conversation they had prior to his trip. 

"I didn't ask him to come back because it doesn't matter what I want, it's really what Jobe wants," Worsfold told Channel Nine on Monday night.

"In the end, I left it with him saying, 'Jobe, it's your life. If you want to come back and play you know we would love to have you there, but you've got to really have that passion to come back.

"'It's too hard, the game challenges you in too many ways to not have your full heart and soul in it'."

Dyson Heppell and David Myers were the latest players to last week recommit to the Bombers, joining Cale Hooker, Travis Colyer and Heath Hocking to pledge their loyalty.

Along with Watson, Michael Hurley, Tom Bellchambers, Brent Stanton, Tayte Pears, Ben Howlett and Michael Hibberd are yet to confirm their plans for next season.

Worsfold said the group would need to be fully committed before returning to the fold.

"If they want to play for Essendon in the future they need to be absolutely clear that's really what they want to do," he said.

"They can't come back second-guessing, that's why I'm really pleased for the guys who have come out with that commitment to be back there next year – they know they're ready to play for the Essendon footy club heart and soul again."