ESSENDON's Jake Carlisle is likely to wait until later this year before ramping up contract discussions, with the important Bomber keen to see how the club is placed before making any decisions on his future.
The 23-year-old falls out of contract at the end of the season, and is the club's highest priority after the Bombers signed Dyson Heppell, Travis Colyer, and Zach and Jackson Merrett to new deals this year.
Earlier this week his manager Anthony McConville indicated Carlisle would hold off on talks until the end of the season, saying a number of clubs were interested in the key position player.
Carlisle said there were several factors in his call to not yet recommit, including an end point to the on-going supplements saga, which was only in its third month when Carlisle last signed a contract extension in 2013.
"We're having negotiations at the moment but we just want to wait for obviously the WADA and ASADA stuff to finish," Carlisle told AFL.com.au.
"I want to play consistent footy, I want to play finals, and obviously we're here to win a flag. The contract's not at the top of my mind at the moment because I know if I can play good footy then who knows, I could sign up next week.
"But it's more the fact I want to focus on our footy and I want to focus on the team winning. The contract should take care of itself."
Carlisle joined the Bombers at the 2009 NAB AFL Draft, and produced his most consistent season in 2013 as a centre half-back.
Under stand-in coach Mark Thompson he was shifted forward last season, and he kicked 27 goals for the year.
The Bombers have made approaches since the middle of last year to extend Carlisle's stay, and the matchwinner said he was keen to stay a Bomber long-term.
"No doubt. I've been here six years now and it all just comes down to if we're winning and if we're happy," he said.
"It's not about money or where we go or what we do, it's more just about playing good consistent football and it comes down to if you're enjoying it.
"Time will tell at the end of the year, because I don't even know what I'm going to do, but I just want to play football. That's my No.1 priority and we'll go from there."
After an injury-interrupted pre-season, Carlisle has gradually built up his form this season, and played his best game of the year last week against Richmond.
He had 15 disposals and took nine marks, but was inaccurate in front of goal, booting 1.3 with a couple of shots not scoring. He sees himself as a second-year forward still learning the craft.
"I'm trying to take it a week at a time, and get my body right and trying to be the best forward – and I say forward because that's where I'm playing – that I can be," Carlisle said.
"I know I can play [in the] backline, but I want to keep proving that I can try to play forward, and who knows, it might be my best spot towards the end of my career?
"At the end of my career it might be that I was a better backman, but I'm going to leave no stone unturned in being the best forward I can."
