Michael Hurley Biography

Michael Hurley announces his retirement effective at the end of the 2022 season and will play his farewell game this week against Richmond.

"The uncertainty around whether physically I could still keep up with the rigours of AFL footy, it really set in that it was probably time to hang the boots up," Hurley said.

"What keeps coming to mind is the relationships I have built here. I've been here since 2008 and while I probably haven't experienced a lot of on-field success, and not everyone in AFL can have that, a different success to me is meeting special people and people from this club I’ll have in my life forever."

Michael Hurley is set to make his comeback to football this weekend via the VFL after his long injury layoff.

Dyson Heppell will captain the Essendon for the sixth straight year in 2022, supported by vice-captain Zach Merrett and deputy vice-captain Andrew McGrath.

Michael Hurley, who was in the four-man leadership group in 2022, has dropped out as he focuses on his return from a hip injury.

A return date for Michael Hurley is unknown after the Essendon defender was discharged from his second stint at hospital dealing with a hip infection.

"We do need to see how he responds as the infection clears over the coming days before we can put any timelines on his return to the club and training," Essendon football manager Josh Mahoney said about Hurley.

Dyson Heppell is named captain of Essendon for another season in 2021 and will be supported by Michael Hurley, Andrew McGrath and Zach Merrett.

"Dyson, Michael, Zach and Andy each possess outstanding work ethic, professionalism and commitment to the Essendon Football Club," Essendo coach Ben Rutten said.

"These players lead by example and are committed to the program's values, so they are each to be congratulated on this achievement."

Zach Merrett is among a host of changes to the Bombers' 2020 leadership group, with wantaway forward Joe Daniher and Orazio Fantasia also cut from the squad.

The complete overhaul will see four fresh faces serve under captain Dyson Heppell in the five-man group this year including Devon Smith, Dylan Shiel, David Zaharakis and Michael Hurley.

"It's just a good opportunity to reflect on your leadership style. I know last year I wasn't in the group but I think my leadership grew throughout the year," Hurley said.

"I saw things slightly differently, became a bit of a conduit for some of the players who weren't in the leadership group and some of the younger players. Zach will find ways to grow. He's a smart young guy, driven, so I think his leadership will continue to grow and we'll see him as a leader in the future."

Michael Hurley's chances of playing again in 2019 are in jeopardy as he prepares for shoulder surgery.

Hurley, 29, hurt his left shoulder after copping a huge hit from North Melbourne youngster Cameron Zurhaar.

"Unfortunately Michael will undergo surgery in the coming days to repair the damage to the AC joint in his shoulder," Essendon football manager Dan Richardson said.

"Once the surgery is complete, we will be in a better position to clarify the length of time he will be sidelined."

Dyson Heppell will again lead Essendon in 2019 as captain, with the Bombers opting for a smaller leadership group.

Zach Merrett (vice-captain), David Myers, Joe Daniher and Orazio Fantasia have also retained their places in the leadership group from last season, however key defensive pair Michael Hurley and Cale Hooker have dropped out.

"We feel all five men bring strong and diverse qualities that will ensure the growth of the playing group across a number of values and we hope this resonates on-field too," Essendon coach John Worsfold said.

"I'd also like to acknowledge both Cale Hooker and Michael Hurley who are terrific leaders and made a strong contribution to the group last season."

A record nine players earned more than $1 million in 2017 as the rich got richer under the new collective bargaining agreement.

Lance Franklin is understood to have been one of the competition's highest-paid players last season, with Tom Boyd, Scott Pendlebury, Nathan Fyfe and then Gold Coast teammates Gary Ablett and Tom Lynch widely believed within industry circles to have also earned seven-figure salaries.

It is likely some of 2017's millionaires are on contracts wherein their average yearly salary is less than $1 million, but their deals were front- or back-ended last season to top seven figures. Sources identified Dayne Beams and Michael Hurley as players in this category.

Richmond captain Trent Cotchin and teammate Dion Prestia would also have been among the AFL's top earners in 2017.

Brendon Goddard chooses not to be part of Essendon's leadership group this season despite being voted in by his peers.

Orazio Fantasia and David Myers have joined captain Dyson Heppell, Zach Merrett, Cale Hooker, Joe Daniher and Michael Hurley in the seven-man group.

"It's wonderful to see Dyson voted back in as captain and his leadership style clearly resonates with his teammates," Essendon coach John Worsfold said.

"Dyson consistently displays care for his teammates, leads by example and is extremely driven to see this group achieve the success they are striving for."

Michael Hurley will have two bouts of off-season surgery, but Essendon is confident the star defender won't face an interrupted pre-season.

"'Hurls’ will have a slight modification at the start of the pre-season but be up and running by Christmas and in everything beyond that," Essendon high performance manager Justin Crow said.

"We're hoping for him to have another good pre-season."

Tom Hurley says rediscovering his aggression has helped him turn his game around since the start of the season.

After a so-so opening month, Hurley caught up with Dan Jordan, one of the club's development and backline coaches, and quickly identified the issue.

"We spoke about being a bit more assertive and aggressive with the way I was playing. I wasn't really having a big physical presence or playing the way I had previously," Hurley said.

"I was being easy to play against, so I started changing that to get back to how I normally play. It's turned around nicely."

Dyson Heppell is named Essendon skipper for 2017.

Heppell will be supported by Cale Hooker and Zach Merrett, who have been named vice-captains.

Former skipper Jobe Watson retains a spot in the club's leadership group which will also include Brendon Goddard, Michael Hurley and Joe Daniher.

“It’s an absolute honour to be named the captain of this great club,” Heppell said.

"Jobe (Watson) has been a tremendous captain - he’s one of the great leaders of our game, and he’s been a wonderful mentor to me over the journey."

After sitting out last season due to suspension, star Bomber Michael Hurley believes he has walked back into "a better football club".

"Leaving at the end of 2015 was sad and left the footy club in an awkward position," Hurley said.

"But coming back now it feels great. [Coach] John (Worsfold) and the other coaches have put in a great 12 months and the place feels fantastic so to come back, I'm very excited."

After growing a beard during whilst serving his suspension from football, Michael Hurley will shave his beard off for a good course.

Hurley used his year off to raise more than $30,000 for a special cause.

Through his work with the MAD Foundation, Hurley has been raising funds to help five-year-old boy Rye Johnson who suffers from cerebral palsy.

The money will be used to purchase a special bed for Rye to sleep in at night.

Michael Hurley concedes he will have to live with being labelled a drug cheat.

How the Hurley deal was done

"I guess the harsh reality is we've been suspended for 12 months for what's happened," Hurley told Channel Nine.

"It doesn't sit well with me at all, that label. It's horrible, who wants to be labeled that?

"I guess that's something I'm going to have to live with and going to have to wear – and be bitterly disappointed that that's the case."

Michael Hurley breaks down in tears after recalling the moment the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) delivered a guilty verdict in January.

The 26-year-old became the eighth banned Bomber to recommit and knocked back significant interest from rival clubs, particularly from the Western Bulldogs and Collingwood.

"I'd always bled red and black and there was a form of anger towards the club at times and I thought that if I hadn't seen what else was out there, that I may've been going back to the football club blindly," Hurley told Channel Nine.

"I chopped and changed with lots of things, that's why I was so tentative early on to make a decision because I was going through a whole range of emotions.

"There were times where I was really, really unsure of what to do but that's why I had that plan and that process, and it allowed me to have all the information and make the decision, not only with my heart but (with) my head as well and it helped a lot."

Michael Hurley turns his back on feverish interest from opposition clubs to sign a lucrative five-year contract extension with Essendon.

Hurley was contracted for 2017 but is now tied to the Bombers to the end of 2022 on a deal believed to be worth about $800,000 a season.

"I took the time I needed to come to this decision, and to be honest I couldn't see my future anywhere other than Essendon," Hurley said.

"What became clear was my strong bond with the playing group. I have some really great mates at the club, we've made a lot of progress and I want to achieve success alongside them.

"The club has made significant changes, John (Worsfold) has had a huge impact in a short period of time and I'm looking forward to playing under him next season and beyond."

Collingwood has emerged as a suitor for Michael Hurley as the Essendon key defender weighs up his future.

"We've spoken to his manager and management," Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley told Fox Footy.

"Any time an A-grade talent wants to look elsewhere than his footy club, we'll be in the mix."

Essendon remains confident Michael Hurley will recommit to the club, but concedes it still has "some work to be done" to ward off strong rival bids for the All Australian key defender.

"'Hurls' is a great person. We've had discussions for a pretty significant period of time now," Essendon CEO Xavier Campbell said.

"I just felt with Hurls he's very close to his teammates, (there's) a strong association with our group, they've been through a very challenging period together.

"There's still some work to be done to get Hurls there, but we remain confident on the position that we've got."

Josh Jenkins says he has been selling the South Australian capital city to good mate and in-demand Essendon defender Michael Hurley.

"I have had him and some other friends of ours over for a couple of games this year and he's enjoyed himself," Jenkins said.

''I've done my best to sell Adelaide to him.

''Just as I went through contract stuff this year, I wanted to make the decision on my own because I'm the one who has to live with it and that's the same scenario for him.

''I know he'll make a decision that he's happy with and wherever he ends up, that club is going to be lucky to have him.''

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has confirmed the club's interest in Essendon star Michael Hurley.

"If any one of the boys who hasn't made a decision decides they want to move on, us, like the other 16 clubs, need to consider the prospect on them coming (into our club)," Beveridge said.

"Michael is one of those (players), and he's a very, very good player.

"If that's the decision Michael makes, we need to make sure we throw our hat in the ring."

Essendon says it will offer Michael Hurley a long-term contract extension to tie him to the club beyond 2017.

"We want him to come to the conclusion he wants to be at Essendon and I hope and believe he will come to that conclusion," Bombers chief executive Xavier Campbell said.

"We respect that Michael is going through a process and we will give him the time and space he needs to make that decision.

"He has a year to run on his contract and we have been speaking to Michael and his management for some time about a long-term contract extension, which we believe illustrates the value he brings to our club."

Retired Essendon forward Paul Chapman says he believes former teammate Michael Hurley will remain at Essendon despite being hurt by the ramifications of the 2012 supplements saga and subsequent WADA ban.

Speaking on RSN on Tuesday morning, Chapman said he had recently caught up with Hurley for lunch, but was still far from certain about the defender's playing future.

"I just asked him a little bit about his future and what he’s thinking," Chapman said.

"I think he’ll stay because he’s loyal, but it wasn’t definitive.

"I thought I’d be able to gauge exactly what was going on, but it was hard to gauge exactly how he was feeling.

"Whether or not he’s totally over it – it didn’t really look like that to me."

Essendon CEO Xavier Campbell will meet with Michael Hurley's management later this week as speculation about the key defender's future heats up.

Hurley remains contracted with Essendon until the end of 2017 but is yet to deliver a commitment to the Bombers that he will return next season.

"I'd like to think we'll have those discussions and I feel quietly confident we'll get to the position we need to get to, but this has been a complicated issue and it is not something we have wanted to rush or will rush at all," Campbell said.

Emerging Bombers Zach Merrett and Joe Daniher have been named in the club's rejigged leadership group, which will feature rotating top-up players throughout the season.

Essendon was forced to change its leadership group when five members – captain Jobe Watson, vice-captain Dyson Heppell, David Myers, Cale Hooker and Michael Hurley – were suspended for the season for anti-doping breaches.

The remaining two members of the group that was announced in December, Brendon Goddard and Mark Baguley, have taken on the respective captain and vice-captaincy duties this year.

The bans left several vacancies, with Merrett, Daniher and James Gwilt added to leadership positions, and David Zaharakis reinstalled into the leadership group after being cut at the end of last season.

"Obviously development of our youngsters is a bit of a priority this year so it makes sense that we've got a couple of younger players who are held in pretty high regard by the group and they're emerging leaders," Essendon football manager Rob Kerr.

"Given the circumstances and given the exposure to the full leadership repertoire and what's involved in the senior leadership group level will no doubt hold them in good stead and fast-track their progress."

Essendon's worst fears have been realised with the Court of Arbitration for Sport finding 34 past and present players guilty of taking banned substance Thymosin Beta-4 and suspending them for the entire 2016 season.

Twelve players still on the Bombers' list and five now at other AFL clubs who took part in Essendon's 2012 supplements program have been hit with two-year bans beginning on March 31 last year.

However, most of the suspensions will come to an end on November 13 this year, taking into account provisional suspensions already served.

Bombers skipper Jobe Watson, vice-captain Dyson Heppell, reigning club champion Cale Hooker, Michael Hurley, Tom Bellchambers, Heath Hocking, Travis Colyer, Michael Hibberd, Ben Howlett, David Myers, Brent Stanton and Tayte Pears will all miss the Bombers' 2016 campaign.

The guilty decision impacts four other AFL clubs with former Essendon players on their lists, with Jake Carlisle (St Kilda), Stewart Crameri (Western Bulldogs), Jake Melksham (Melbourne), Angus Monfries and Patrick Ryder (Port Adelaide) to be sidelined for the season.

Former Essendon players Mark McVeigh and Brent Prismall are set to be suspended from their respective roles at Greater Western Sydney and the Western Bulldogs until November 13 as support staff are banned from any WADA-complaint sports under the sanctions.

McVeigh is an assistant coach at the Giants, while Prismall is a player wellbeing and welfare manager with the Bulldogs.

Essendon champion and former club coach James Hird slammed the guilty verdict and suspensions.

"I am shocked by this decision," Hird said in a statement.

"I firmly believe the players do not deserve this finding.

"They do not deserve to face a twelve-month suspension from the sport. This is a miscarriage of justice for 34 young men."

Michael Hurley is continuing his support of former coach James Hird, endorsing his former mentor's eventual return to the game.

"James was fantastic for my footy and a good friend of mine, so to see him go through these sorts of things is hard," Hurley said.

"I think it'd be fantastic to see him involved in footy … hopefully things can clear up and hopefully he can get involved in footy at some stage in the future."

Jobe Watson has rediscovered his passion and will lead Essendon for the seventh season after being elected the club's skipper for 2016.

The Bombers announced their leadership group on Friday, with the 30-year-old Brownlow medallist to take the reins again with midfielder Dyson Heppell his vice captain.

Essendon's leadership group will also include David Myers, Brendon Goddard and Cale Hooker, with Michael Hurley and Mark Baguley added to the group.

Heppell captained the Bombers during Watson's nine-week absence at the end of last season due to a shoulder injury, but Watson said he "had the passion" to hold the position again.

"I spent some time away by myself overseas and had a long think about what I wanted out of footy and my role at the football club," Watson said.

"Over there I decided that I was still passionate about playing and still had the urge to lead and was excited about leading this team and this club.

"In my mind once it was ratified that my teammates felt that I was the right person to do it, I knew I still had the passion for the role."

Cale Hooker's form at both ends of the ground has been rewarded by winning Essendon's best and fairest for 2015.

The All Australian defender, who started the season in the backline before switching forward, polled in 20 of 22 games for the Bombers to be named the Crichton medallist with 456 votes.

He led second-placed key defender Michael Hurley (402 votes) and last year's winner Dyson Heppell (third place with 360 votes) at Wednesday night's event.

Michael Hurley hopes to find a permanent home in defence in 2014.

"So far I have trained every session as a backman - it has been great for me and I feel like I am at home in the backline," Hurley said.

"As a junior I played my entire career as a backman, I feel pretty comfortable back there and the guys I am playing alongside such as 'Fletch' (Dustin Fletcher), Cale Hooker, Jake Carlisle and Tayte Pears are all fantastic players which helps as well.

"It would be nice to settle down in one position but for me I am pretty happy to play where I am told to play."

Acting senior coach Mark Thompson says Michael Hurley will spend more time in down back in 2014.

"He's a natural defender, he's a natural competitive beast who likes the ball coming to him and can win one-on-one contests and kicks the ball well and attacks well from down back," Thompson said.

"I think we'll have a look at him down back. That's not to say he's not going to play forward, [but] we probably think more going towards backline."

After a season of injury niggles, Essendon forward Michael Hurley is expected to have ankle surgery this week.

Hurley is likely to undergo a reconstruction after rolling the joint several times this year, which requires a rehabilitation period that would take him until December before resuming full pre-season training.

Jason Winderlich produces a best-afield performance against the Bulldogs and teammate Michael Hurley says the 28-year old has become invaluable for his on-field leadership.

"He's a great player to have in the side for what he provides as a player and as a leader," Hurley said about Winderlich.

"He's very skillful, good one-on-one, takes contested marks and kicks goals, but I think his best asset is his leadership in the forward line. It's been just sensational.

"We've got quite a young forward line so his experience and leadership down there has been massive since his return."

Essendon coach James Hird praises the efforts of the Bombers' leadership group in skipper Jobe Watson's absence against the Bulldogs.

"Probably three of our best players were Brendon (Goddard), Brent (Stanton) and Dyson Heppell, and also Jason Winderlich," Hird said.

"They're all part of our leadership team and they really stepped up tonight, and Michael Hurley worked really hard in the forward line. I thought our leadership group did a great job in Jobe's absence."

Daniel Merrett says he will need to adjust him game while remaining aggressive after being rubbed out for three matches for a sling tackle on Bomber Michael Hurley.

"There's no room for sling tackles in the game and I've learned that the hard way," Merrett said.

"I'll have to adapt the way I tackle and I've learned my lesson.

"That's (aggressive) how I've got to play. I'm a big bloke in the team and that's what I'm here to do. That's when I play my best footy, when I'm aggressive."

Michael Hurley leaves the field and goes straight to the rooms in the dying stages of the Bombers' 43-point win over Gold Coast due to a wrist injury.

"He's had an old scaphoid injury on that hand going back a long time," Essendon coach James Hird said.

"He has wrists that have been operated on previously, so when they get a knock on them they get pretty sore but Bruce [Reid] is pretty confident he'll be right in 10 days' time."

David Zaharakis says the team has rallied in support of Michael Hurley after the big forward has endured a luckless start to 2013 with a series of injuries.

"He's a really loyal bloke and he's really good with teammates who have been injured so you have to give him that support when it's happened to him because Mick's probably the most loyal guy at the footy club between teammates," Zaharakis said.

"Hurls is one of those blokes who just loves playing footy and when that's taken away from him he can get down on himself as anyone would."

Brisbane defender Daniel Merrett accepts a three-match ban from the AFL's match review panel for rough conduct after knocking out Essendon forward Michael Hurley.

Michael Hurley is in doubt for Essendon's clash with Richmond due to the effects of concussion.

Hurley was subbed out of the Bombers' loss to the Brisbane Lions last week after his head hit the ground in a tackle from defender Daniel Merrett.

"After the game he completed all the tests well, he seemed OK, but with these things you need to just tread carefully and we will see how he goes during the week," Bombers football operations manager Steve Alessio said.

"Obviously with concussion you need to treat it very cautiously, so we will be guided over the next couple of days as to how he comes along."

Michael Hurley has been cleared of serious wrist damage and is a chance to play this week.

"He has had some scans and they have ruled out any broken bone which is great news," Essendon football operations manager Steve Alessio said.

"He will train during the week, test out the wrist which is still a bit sore from the fall and hopefully he comes up ready and raring to go for the St. Kilda game this weekend."

The Bombers face an anxious wait on the results of scans after Michael Hurley was seen bracing his right wrist just after Essendon's dramatic win over Fremantle.

"It got stuck under him, and there's some scar tissue which I think he's just broken up. That's the initial presentation. We'll wait and see during the week," Bombers coach James Hird said after the match.

The Bombers insist Michael Hurley will be fit for round one despite having to wear a moon boot after rolling his ankle.

"(The moon boot) is a lot more precautionary than you can see from the outside, but he's confident, so is the doctor and so are the coaches," teammate Brent Stanton said.

"He's very professional and he'll do the right recovery this week. He'll rest up and get ready to go."

Brendan Goddard along with Jason Winderlich and Dyson Heppell, is elevated into the Bomber's leadership group which also includes reigning Brownlow medallist and captain Jobe Watson, Brent Stanton, Heath Hocking, Michael Hurley and David Zaharakis.

Bomber Michael Hurley has set himself for a big pre-season after dropping five kilograms and reaping the benefits.

"The way I'm covering the ground at the moment has been a pleasant surprise and I think having a bit less body weight has been helpful for me," Hurley said.

"Depending on what role I'd play [I'd like to keep it off]. If I was playing a high forward role, I'd ideally like to be this weight.

"But in saying that, if I was going to go down back and play on the likes of Travis Cloke and guys who are just man mountains, I'd probably have to put on a bit more size."

Eccentric goalkicking 'guru' Ben Perkins is reported to be behind Michael Hurley's improved form in front of the sticks.

A low-grade hamstring strain will keep Michael Hurley out of action for the next three weeks.

"The hamstring that's now sore is the opposite one to the one that he's had problems with, so it is a completely new injury that's occurred on the day," Essendon general manager of football operations Paul Hamilton said.

Essendon forward Michael Hurley needs a scan on his hamstring and is likely to spend time on the sidelines after being injured against St Kilda.

"It's a frustrating year for him, he sort of gets going and kicks a few goals and has the hamstring," Hird said.

"We'll go away and scan it Monday and we're hoping it's not [injured] but normally it is when doctors think it is."

Michael Hurley kicks a career-high six goals against Fremantle at Patersons Stadium.

"Six is the most in AFL, the previous best was four. But growing up, I kicked eight at Macleod [in north-east Melbourne] when I was about 15 so," Hurley said.

"I have been kicking pretty poorly for a while now so I have been just practising heaps over the last couple of weeks. Just repetition, repetition and it has paid off."

Essendon forward Michael Hurley wants to emulate the contested marking power of Travis Cloke and Kurt Tippett.

"I envy the way they're able to take contested marks," Hurley says.

"For some players the marking just happens naturally, but as I said earlier it's about me thinking through things more and not just being as aggressive in the way I sometimes approach the ball."

Michael Hurley commits to the Bombers for a further five years until the end of 2017.

"Michael is an incredibly important part of our future and it is very exciting for the club to have secured his services for the next five years," Essendon coach James Hird said.

"For him to commit to the club is a great sign of his faith in the direction we are heading. He is a fantastic young man and an exceptional talent that we feel the club will be able to build its future around."

Michael Hurley says getting his latest deal out of the way with the club was important to keep speculation about his future at bay.

"I was always keen to stay and I thought I'd like to get it out of the way and over and done with," Hurley said.

"You saw towards the end of the year that their (players who were speculated to go to GWS) families started getting brought into it and I tried to avoid that. I didn't want that happening. I thought football is what I play and not what my family does, so I'd like to keep it up to me."

Paul Connors, manager of GWS target Michael Hurley, says the star Bomber wants to stay at Essendon.

I would say that dialogue is open, he wants to stay at Essendon and I would be surprised if he wasn't at Essendon," Connors told SEN radio.

"I'm sitting down with his family over the weekend. You've got to go through contract negotiations at your own pace and Michael's really comfortable and I'm sure the guys down at Essendon are OK with where we're at as well."

Michael Hurley has been identified as one of a handful of high profile targets for GWS but Essendon says they are confident of him staying.

"We are in talks with a number of players at the moment, not just Michael, but we don't really like talking about the negotiation period because it is something you have to do without the public eye," Bombers football operations manager Paul Hamilton said.

"We are very confident with the way things are going, but at the same time you don't want players to be harassed about it all the time."

Essendon coach James Hird is confident key forward Michael Hurley will re-sign with the Bombers.

"I don't think he wants any pressure from us, but obviously we would love to have him signed as soon as possible. And I'm sure that will happen.

"I know his teammates are very confident he'll stay, and speaking to Michael he's very keen to stay as well."

After recovering from a stress fracture in his foot that plagued him towards the end of the 2011 season, Michael Hurley resumes running during pre-season training with the rest of the Bombers squad.

"He ran for the first time today which was very exciting," Essendon coach James Hird said.

"We were pretty disciplined with the way we trained and played him in the back half of the year just to make sure it didn't get worse.

"He's pulled up with no soreness today. We'll take it gradually but we're expecting him to be available to be with the main group within a month."

Gws coach Kevin Sheedy says he will strongly target Essendon's out-of-contract star Michael Hurley next year.

"If our club feels it needs a player like Hurley, we go after him. It's as simple as that," Sheedy said.

"We've got a city up there in Sydney that doesn't know enough about our game and we've got to get great players from all around this country. If it's not Hurley, it'll be someone else like that. We've got to find attractive players that will bring people through to watch AFL."

Michael Hurley says he will play through pain in his foot in Sunday's elimination final against Carlton.

"Towards the end of a game, it gets pretty sore. During the week and at the start of games it's pretty good," Hurley said.

"I just have to manage my training loads and even my game loads. I've been coming off a little bit more than I normally would. It's at the lower end of the scale."

Essendon's Michael Hurley earned his second NAB AFL Rising Star nomination with a 30-possession game against St Kilda.

Michael Hurley admits his start to the season was slow but says relegating off-field issues to the past has helped his recover lost form.

"I've put that behind me now and the boys have played well the last couple of weeks and hopefully my form can continue," Hurley said.

"I did struggle early on but I think being thrown down back and sort of having a sound spot for the last three or four weeks has helped. It's gradually getting better."

Essendon's Michael Hurley says he is remorseful for his attack on an Indian taxi driver.

"I really just remember being out with mates and having a good time, and then the later it got the less I remember. Then I can't remember anything," Hurley said.

"I just want to stress that it wasn't racially based. People are entitled to their opinions, but that's the first thing they look at and it makes you feel pretty sick to the stomach.

"Essendon gave me a lot of support and I have to give that back, and the best way to do that is to play good football."

Essendon's Michael Hurley has been placed on a two-year good behaviour bond after fronting Melbourne Magistrates Court for assaulting a taxi driver.

"There is no excuse for my behaviour - it was totally unacceptable and I have no one to blame but myself," Hurley told Essendon's website.

"Unfortunately, that night I had too much to drink and I made a serious mistake which I deeply regret."

Michael Hurley signs on with Essendon for the next two years, warding off any potential lucrative offershas from the Gold Coast.

"I think he's a person of enormous character. He wants to play for the Essendon Football Club," Hurley's manager Paul Connors said.

"We really do have a wonderful sport and a wonderful culture and Michael loves the culture at Essendon."

A survey of coaches says Nic Naitanui can become the competition's premier player, ahead of Michael Hurley and Cyril Rioli.

Michael Hurley says he can't wait to get back on the field again when he resumes from his club-imposed ban against West Coast at Subiaco.

"It's great to be back in the team and I can't wait to run out for the Bombers on Friday night," Hurley said.

"It will be good to get the chance to repay the faith the club has shown in me and hopefully we can get a win for our fans.

"It has been hard watching from the sidelines, so hopefully I can come back and help the boys out. I am very proud to be an Essendon player and I can't wait to represent the club again."

New Essendon captain Jobe Watson says the leadership group's decision to suspend Michael Hurley over an off-field incident could benefit the youngster.

"I think he showed last year how talented a player he is. But for a guy only coming in to his second year, it might not be such a bad thing to not have the whole season to try and get up. Often guys can get a lull in their form, just with the demands of it being different to underage footy," Watson said.

"I think he will come in, be fresh and ready to go and have a lot of training under his belt. The side will be looking forward to him coming in."

Essendon ruckman David Hille says the Bombers leadership group deliberated long and hard to decide Michael Hurley's club punishment for assaulting a taxi driver.

"It's a process that took a long period of time to come to and it's been well documented, but we wanted to get it right," Hille said.

"(We wanted) to take into consideration all of the circumstances surrounding the incident. I think that's why we've been cautious with dealing with the issue."

Michael Hurley won't be available for selection until round four after Essendon announced further penalty for his attack on a taxi driver.

Hurley will also be required to complete an alcohol counseling course while being involved in at least 20 hours' community service during the 2010 season.

"As the matter is only part-heard Michael cannot make any comment today," Essendon football operations manager Paul Hamilton said.

"The club will release a statement later in the day, but it can be confirmed that Michael will not be available for selection until round four of the AFL season."

Essendon is confident Michael Hurley will resist the temptation of a bigger contract with the Gold Coast and remain at Essendon for his career.

"I have no doubt Michael Hurley will be a career Essendon player," Bombers chief executive Ian Robson said.

"I have had a range of conversations with Michael and his family and Michael knows where he stands with us.

Michael Hurley, who is facing assault charges, has been suspended by Essendon and will face further sanctions in the future.

"Michael made a serious mistake and he is extremely remorseful for his actions," Essendon CEO Ian Robson said.

"He accepts that the club has imposed this sanction, and will take further action, and he will continue to fully co-operate with police and the courts."

Michael Hurley has had the plaster removed after an off-season operation to his wrist that was injured during training.

"He had an incident on Monday whereby he jarred his wrist, but he went in and the docs cleared him, and he came out and trained today, so that would be just a little bit of a flow-on from that," Essendon coach Matthew Knights said.

"There's a little bit of soreness still, but it was only a jarring incident, and he'll adjust."

Essendon youngster Michael Hurley will front Melbourne's Magistrates Court next month after an alcohol-related incident in September where he was charged with assaulting a taxi driver.

Essendon is in no hurry to deal with young defender Michael Hurley's alleged grand final eve indiscretion against a taxi driver.

''In a police context the investigation is ongoing,'' newly appointed Essendon chief executive Ian Robson said yesterday on SEN radio.

''Michael and the club will provide absolute and full co-operation with the police and do all we can.

''We've expressed our disappointment with the fact that Michael was out late and we've thrown our support behind him ... we have to respect the fact that there is a legal and police process to be completed.''

Essendon's young gun Michael Hurley has spent several hours in police custody after allegedly kicking and punching a taxi driver following an all-night drinking session.

"We are extremely disappointed that Michael was out so late and that he put himself in a situation where an incident occurred,'' Essendon managing director Peter Jackson said.

"He started drinking at the grand final Footy Show after-party and by night's end he had clearly had too much to drink.

"We are treating the matter very seriously and will take appropriate action once the details are clear. The club will continue speaking with Michael and he will assist police any way he can.''

Essendon's Michael Hurley was superb against the Saints with 20 possessions and 10 marks and has been rewarded with a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination.

First year Essendon defender Michael Hurley fractured his scaphoid bone in the VFL on the weekend.

Impressive Essendon defender Michael Hurley has injured his quad at training.

Essendon will get another look at its next generation of talent when teenagers Michael Hurley and David Zaharakis play their first games for the club tonight.

Essendon hopes to have carved a clear succession plan for life after Dustin Fletcher by recruiting tall defender Michael Hurley.