BOMBERS DOUBT

BENDIGO Bank Bombers chairman David Joss says he is happy with how discussions are progressing with Essendon, but can’t give a definitive date yet on when the VFL club’s future beyond this year will be known.The Bombers and Essendon are in the final year of their latest alignment deal, with the two clubs working through a review process as to whether the partnership, which started in 2003, will continue.“We meet regularly with Essendon on a whole range of issues, and certainly, next year is part of our ongoing discussions,” Joss said yesterday.“This isn’t something that has suddenly come out of the blue and we have to start talking about, this is something we have been speaking about for a long period of time.“The discussions are really open and transparent. We talk regularly with Essendon and I believe the discussions are in a really healthy place, but that doesn’t mean they’re finished.“It means we have to continue to go through the process, which we’re doing. But I don’t want to pre-empt any results or put any dates to it, because that would be foolish, but at the same time, I’m really happy with the discussions and the process.”While the two clubs are presently reviewing their partnership, Essendon managing director Peter Jackson told The Advertiser earlier this month of the Dons’ desire for the alignment to be retained.“We want to identify a way forward that maintains the core relationship between Essendon and Bendigo and delivers the right outcomes,” Jackson said on June 4.The Bombers make their return to the field this weekend after what has been an extended mid-season break.The Bombers had the bye over the VFL split weekend, meaning they haven’t played since losing to Box Hill by 47 points on June 8.Bendigo travels to Frankston this Sunday to take on the Dolphins.After 10 rounds of the season, both the Bombers and Dolphins remain winless.“We’re very much looking forward to the boys getting back out there,” Joss said.“For us it has been a two-week break, so it’s almost like the start of a new season, and that’s how we need to treat it.“We’re hoping we get judged by what we do from this point forward.“We need to put the first half of the season behind us, learn from it, and make the right decisions moving forward.”