Essendon has offered captain Matthew Lloyd a new one-year deal according to a story posted by the club on its official website.
However, the seventh-greatest goalkicker of all time told Essendon football operations manager Paul Hamilton that he still needs more time to contemplate his future.
The main sticking point between Lloyd and coach Matthew Knights appears to be that the Bombers spearhead will not be guaranteed a spot at full forward - the position where he made his name as an all-time great of the game.
"Matthew said he needs more time to decide if he will sign a new contract and play in 2010 and we are respecting his wishes," Hamilton told www.essendonfc.com.au.
"He has been busy with a number of things, including the birth of his second daughter, and doesn't want to rush what is a very big decision for him."
"Naturally the football club, our supporters, sponsors and the wider football public are very interested in his decision but we will not be pressuring Matthew."
Knights met with Lloyd last week and told him he was a required player at the football club so long as he agreed to play according to the plan the coach has put in place which he believes will deliver Essendon a record 17th premiership.
That plan includes giving young key forwards Jay Neagle, Michael Hurley and Scott Gumbleton every opportunity to develop as the team's next main attacking targets and will probably see Lloyd spend a lot of time on a flank or even on a wing.
"Matthew Lloyd is a club champion and deserves to know the expectations the club has of him," Hamilton said.
"He knows there is a place for him in 2010 if he can physically and mentally commit to another season."
Hamilton denied that Lloyd could wind up at another club next year despite rumoured interest from Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs in particular with retirement the other obvious alternative should he decide to stop playing with Essendon.
In recent years, despite being viewed as a traditional stay-at-home full forward, Lloyd has been pushed further up the ground but has still managed to lead the club's goalkicking in the last three seasons.
Even former coach Kevin Sheedy has weighed into the debate, saying Lloyd should stay at Windy Hill next year - echoing the sentiments of Lloyd's former captain James Hird.
Since debuting in 1995, Lloyd has booted 926 goals from 270 matches to leave him only behind Jack Titus, Gary Ablett senior, Doug Wade, Jason Dunstall, Gordon Coventry and Tony Lockett on the all-time goalkicking list.
He is a five-time All Australian, three-time Coleman Medalist, has twice finished runner-up in the club's best-and-fairest and was a member of the Bombers' all-conquering 2000 premiership team.
If Lloyd decides to play on in 2010, he will sit out the first three matches of the season after being suspended for applying a bone-jarring hip-and-shoulder to Brad Sewell in Round 22 which left the Hawthorn midfielder with significant facial injuries.