In the spirit of the gams and sport in general, I doubt a club even as unscrupulous as Essendon (
) would try and invoke lengthy legal proceedings to keep a player who no longer wishes to remain at the club.
As you rightfully note, if Ryder communicates to Essendon his intentions, Essendon are (adequately) compensated in turn then all parties avoid the QC bills arriving in the post.
Regardless of this, if Ryder does successfully negotiate an early exit from his contract without using any legal loophole and Essendon oblige the flood gates could well open.
As for Brendan Goddards comments about the "unethical" nature of clubs circling around the Bombers trying to convince players to leave, didn't Essendon circle around him and seduce him into leaving St.Kilda?