It’s the supplements saga that keeps stinging AFL club Essendon.
The Bombers’ hands were tied by Paddy Ryder’s threat to take the club to the AFL grievance tribunal if they failed to trade him.
Ryder, having fallen deeply out of love with Essendon in a season that featured more ASADA angst and a legal challenge that was comprehensively dismissed, was granted his wish on Thursday.
The Bombers had asked for a high-profile talent in exchange for Ryder – Hamish Hartlett, Ollie Wines or Chad Wingard.
Port Adelaide called their bluff.
Ryder was among the Bombers’ best players and a game-breaking ruckman.
He is an immense loss.
The 26-year-old’s exit was not the only hangover from the “pharmacologically experimental environment” in 2012 that Ziggy Switkowski detailed last year.
List manager Adrian Dodoro was forced to dramatically rejig his approach this year and last, when the club was stripped of first and second round picks in the 2013 and 2014 drafts.
“You’re out of the cream of the draft,” Dodoro told AFL Trade Radio.
“We were heading down a path we were really comfortable with … then you lose those picks.
“You look more at guys that are value for money and can play at the level (now) … in some ways it’s a risk.”
The Bombers traded their way into the first round of the 2014 draft by snaffling Port’s No.17 pick.
But ready-made players have been their focus in trade period, as it was last year.
Geelong champion Paul Chapman was the high-profile veteran arriving in 2013, this time it’s 2008 Brownlow medallist Adam Cooney.
GWS ruckman Jonathan Giles and delisted St Kilda defender James Gwilt were also recruited alongside Cooney.
“(They see it) … as an opportunity to possibly play in finals and play on the big stage,” Dodoro said.
“I don’t think we’re that far away.”
The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority is currently preparing to reissue show-cause notices to the 34 players embroiled in Essendon’s supplements saga.
Bombers coach James Hird’s appeal, against Justice John Middleton’s ruling that ASADA’s investigation was lawful, will be heard on November 10.
The club decided not to appeal the crushing verdict.
The players are also taking no part in the ongoing legal challenge against the probe.
FREE AGENCY AND TRADES, EACH CLUB RATED
ADELAIDE 6 out of 10
Not much to report, but they didn’t lose Patrick Dangerfield. Kyle Cheney was solid for Hawthorn and Luke Lowden is a back-up ruckman. Curious that they traded away pick No.10 with Geelong for pick No.14, along with lower draft selections.BRISBANE 8/10
A year after they were pilloried for so many go-home defections, the improving Lions were big players. Collingwood’s Dayne Beams is a strong addition and Allen Christensen could be very handy.CARLTON 7/10
Tall forward Kristian Jaksch and midfielder Mark Whiley are promising young additions. The jury remains out on Liam Jones, who has shown promise, but ended this season playing in the VFL.COLLINGWOOD 7/10
Regardless of the circumstances, losing Dayne Beams and Heritier Lumumba means more experience out the door. But the `Pies rallied by picking up Levi Greenwood and Travis Varcoe, along with Jack Crisp. And they now have two top-10 draft picks.ESSENDON 6/10
No matter what you think of Patrick Ryder, his defection is a blow to the crisis-stricken club. But Adam Cooney boosts their midfield and Jonathan Giles could be a handy back-up ruckman. It could have been a lot worse for the Bombers.FREMANTLE N/A
No tradesGEELONG 6/10
Allen Christensen and Travis Varcoe were once touted as keys to the Cats’ future, so they’re significant losses. The proof will be in the pudding whether Mitch Clark and Rhys Stanley are worthwhile recruits.GOLD COAST 7/10
Not bad work from the Suns, who gain important experience with Nick Malceski. Mitch Hallahan was starved of chances at Hawthorn and has potential. And they’ve retained Daniel Gorringe, who could have gone to Port.GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 6/10
They’ve lost six players, including potential star Tom Boyd and Jono O’Rourke. On the plus side, Ryan Griffen brings plenty of experience and they have three of the top seven draft picks.HAWTHORN 8/10
Working beautifully, as usual. James Frawley further boosts their defence and they didn’t lose Ryan Schoenmakers. Mitch Hallahan, Kyle Cheney and Luke Lowden probably had to go to gain further opportunities. One year on, Buddy who?MELBOURNE 6/10
While they can ill-afford to lose Frawley, the No.3 draft pick is rich compensation. They have the second and third draft picks – this time, can the Demons make good use of them? Lumumba and Jeff Garlett bring experience and Sam Frost has potential.NORTH MELBOURNE 4/10
Levi Greenwood finished third in their best-and-fairest this season, so he’s a massive loss. And they missed out on Cooney. Free agents Shaun Higgins and Jarrad Waite have been known more for their potential than anything they’ve achieved yet.PORT ADELAIDE 9/10
The Power were already firmly in their premiership window before the Ryder trade went through. It’s the grand final or bust next year for Port.RICHMOND N/A
No tradesST KILDA 6/10
Their prized No.1 pick was on the table, but no-one offered enough to make them part with it. Stanley has been a tease over the years and they score a high round-two pick at No.21 in return.SYDNEY 4/10
In the wake of the ongoing furore over Lance Franklin’s monster deal, the AFL effectively barred the Swans from bringing in anyone other than delisted free agents. Malceski looms as a significant loss.WEST COAST N/A
No tradesWESTERN BULLDOGS 4/10
Whoa. What a trade period – coach (Brendan McCartney, sacked), captain (Griffen, defected and traded) and their Brownlow Medallist (Cooney, traded) all gone. They finally have a proper key forward (Boyd), but they’ve bet the farm on a kid who’s played just nine senior games.
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.
Essendon captain Zach Merrett says he would have relished extra time to decide a winner on Anzac Day, while Collingwood coach Craig McRae felt…
Does he have a point?
For all the pomp and circumstance that surrounds the now-traditional Anzac Day clash at the MCG, there has been one thing conspicuously lacking over…
Old mate summing it up better than anyone possibly could!
