ESSENDON utility Adam McPhee has confirmed he is parting ways with the club and will nominate for the 2010 NAB AFL Pre-Season Draft.

The 27-year-old is expected to be taken by Fremantle with the third pre-season pick, sending him back to the club with which he started his career.

Essendon's general manager of football operations Paul Hamilton said the club was disappointed that McPhee has decided not to accept the club’s two-year offer.

"Naturally we are disappointed and some of our fans will be as well, but we could not reach an agreement with Adam. We offered him a very good two-year deal that we believe was more than fair," Hamilton told Essendon's website.

But he said the departure also meant opportunities for others at the club.

"Adam leaving opens the door for a young player like David Myers or Darcy Daniher to really grab their opportunity and cement a place in the senior team next year.

"We only want players here that want to play for this club and Adam has decided he doesn't want to be part of this emerging playing group."

McPhee was taken by Fremantle with pick 39 in the 2000 draft and played 25 games there in two seasons before being traded to Essendon for pick 55, which Fremantle used to take Ryan Crowley.

Now, after 142 games with the Bombers, McPhee is heading back to where it all began.

Essendon will use pick nine in the pre-season draft.

The club has four selections in next week's NAB AFL Draft (10, 24, 26, 33).