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.
scott of adelaide
Guest
I agree with one thing you said one player does not make a flag. Apart from that take your blinkers off for your hatred of port. They ran out games better than any team in the league. Most 4th quarter wins and most 2nd half wins. Do your research before you start typing keyboard warrior. Your hate for port has blinded you on so many levels. Did you even watch a port game? Their fitness is the best and this is why the crows are now copying them and heading to dubai to train in the heat (the crows twitter account made fun of port for training in dubai when it was just as hot in adelaide. Guess they didnt factor in humidy, they must be smart..) We lost to essendon and melbourne when we didnt have trengrove who is our only KPD over 195cm. It had a knock on effect as he couldnt help lobbe in the ruck and our team was too small in height for those rounds. Port has lost pretty much all games when trengrove hasnt been playing, not because one player makes a team but because his height is crucial. We lost to sydney who were in the GF (how clueless are you) In no way to port resemble the crows from two years ago. You had two towering KPF who had quick delivery from centre clearances, which were won by ur amazing ruck (being serious) and your very good midfield. The crows that year were the best contested group and one of the best at centre clearances, team that with the two power forwards and you were very hard to beat. One of ur key position players left. Then the centre clearances werent so threatening and the crows were killed for poor skill levels out the back half and the loss of taylor walker also hurt. Sam jacobs didnt back up his stellar season, no one seesm to see why but i thought it was pretty obv. tippet wasnt their to give him a chop out so he got tired. Ports team is fast skillful and relies on speed of attack and smaller crumbing fwds. We also have a better defence then the crows had that year. I would say jacobs is far superior ruck to lobee (lobbe is a good tackling and pressure ruck on the ground but cant tap like jacobs) The crows midfield was a bigger bodied midfield which thrived on pressure tackling and winning the contested footy. Port wins the contested footy but not as well as the crows did. Ports players on the wings ie polec and harlett are far superior to the crows of that year. Ports backline has great smalls in broadbent and pittard. Pittard makes mistakes but he is still young. Ports team overall is much younger than the crows of that year so there is a point of difference thre too. Adding ryder will only help port as we lost those games to those poor teams when our ruck was exposed. He will not allow that to happen if hes not serving a ban lol. ive commented this on another story but ill add it here to show you im not a one eyed supporter like yourself, i just see it how it is. I would also add crows list looks the goods for next year. I like the current crows list and i think your biggest issue last year is sando had no clue how to teach the players basic skills ie kicking and handballing. You turned over the ball too many times and didnt have the exp. in the backline to cover it. Which is why you had the most scores off turnovers for the year. Also sandos tactics in game where poor anyone who knows football could see his gameplan was horrible and he had no plan B. This talk of the players and him not getting along is garbage, Sando is a great communicator and lads lad. The players didnt want him to coach coz he wasnt good at it and it was ruining their careers. Here comes Phil walsh your savior. Although im a port supporter i have to agree this guy will save the crows. Hes noted for showing players especially a midfield group about how to move the ball through the middle of the ground mostly via handball but he is also a great tactician. Watch the crows go from no bodys to a threat next year. Cant wait for footy at adelaide oval. Hopefully we have a cracker of a showdown coz apprently talk is there will only be 1 next year
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Port have Paddy and Angus Mychips looking at bans for at least part of the season.
Anthony Maguire
Roar Rookie
I think you might find that Port Adelaide will bust next year. One player does not make a flag. So much for all their fitness and ability to run out games, they proved they were vulnerable by almost losing to Melbourne (twice), losing to Essendon (at home while Essendon had three key players out), and losing to Sydney and several other sides below them. They resemble the Adelaide of 2 seasons ago that also got within a kick of a Grand Final and then went backwards.