Matt Guelfi is playing for his future in 2021, with the Bomber having to wait on the offer of a new contract.
Despite earning more game time this season, Cal Twomey has told AFL.com.au that Essendon is unlikely to offer Guelfi a contract before the end of the year.
The 23-year-old has managed 14 games in 2021 after battling to establish a permanent spot over his first four seasons at the Bombers.
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Taken with Essendon's pick 76 in the 2017 draft, the Claremont junior has defied expectations to play 58 games in the red and black.
Despite coming off 17 disposals and a goal against North Melbourne, Guelfi is set to face a nervous wait as Essendon deals with a number of contracting dilemmas.
Fellow midfielder Zach Merrett recently signed a monster six-year-deal whilst Darcy Parish, Jake Stringer and Mason Redman have also signed fresh deals with the club.
Midfielder
Disposals
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Guelfi joins more than a dozen Bombers currently without contracts past 2021.
Earlier this week, coach Ben Rutten admitted the club was still weighing up whether to commit to veteran Cale Hooker for another season.
Martin Gleeson, Patrick Ambrose David Zaharakis and Dylan Clarke are Essendon's other unrestricted free-agents, whilst Andrew Phillips, Brandon Zerk-Thatcher and Tom Cutler are among others without contracts.
With Essendon likely to be active during this year's trade period, the next month of football might decide Guelfi's fate.
