FORMER Collingwood midfielder Sam Dwyer has declared himself up for the challenge of reigniting his AFL career at Essendon – if the Bombers are interested.
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The Bombers will select 10 top-up players for the 2016 season after their list was decimated following a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling on Tuesday.
Captain Jobe Watson was among 12 current Essendon players to receive 12-month doping bans relating to the Bombers’ ill-fated 2012 supplements program.
Thirty-four players, including some out of the AFL system, received penalties.
South Warrnambool export Dwyer was delisted in October following 39 games in three seasons with Collingwood as a mature-age recruit.
He has committed to VFL powerhouse Port Melbourne – the club which thrust him into AFL calculations – for the 2016 season.
But Dwyer said he would embrace a second chance at the top level if the Bombers saw him in their plans.
“I haven’t heard from anyone really,” he said.
“At this stage I am as in the dark as everyone else.
“NAB Challenge isn’t far away and they’d need to get the balling rolling but you have to go through the process (with regards to picking players).
“It’d be nice to get a call up and get the opportunity to continue my AFL career but it’s in their hands.
“I think I am still in reasonable shape. I’m not up to AFL level quite as much but it won’t take me long to pick things up and get back into the swing of things.”
Dwyer said the Bombers’ situation was unprecedented.
“It’s a very strange situation. I didn’t know what to think of it (the bans),” he said.
“Obviously it’s bloody disappointing for the players and how it’s dragged on for so long.”
Port Melbourne returns to pre-season on Wednesday night.