Essendon list manager Adrian Dodoro isn’t warm and fuzzy at the best of times, and he is positively seething at the minute. When prodded in public about Joe Daniher’s trade request, he uses words like “disappointing”. Behind closed doors, he’s probably about to implode.
Essendon’s time is now. The playing list Dodoro has been building – since the entire organisation was flipped on its head by the World Anti-Doping Agency in 2015 – is about to enter the age profile of a theoretical premiership contender.
Of those players, the stalwarts who returned to the club from their bans in 2017 are nearing father time. Most of those players returned on the pretence of at least a first finals victory in 15 years being around the corner.
And now Daniher says he wants to elope to Bondi with Buddy Franklin. His departure will slam Essendon’s premiership window shut and expose the bare cupboard that is the group of developing key forwards at Tullamarine.
(Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
As we well know, a trade request from a player under contract doesn’t make the deal a lay down misere. At a time when players exert more power over their clubs than ever before, clubs have started to become more comfortable with the idea of holding them to their contracts. Extenuating family circumstances aside, clubs can be less than sympathetic to young men on CEO salaries wanting a change of countryside.
Matthew Lloyd says that unless Sydney comes to the trade table with a unicorn, that’s a real chance of happening to Daniher. Terry Wallace reckons Lloyd is biased, while Peter Ryan thinks it would be “courageous” of Essendon to take Daniher to Cash Converters ASAP and plunge their forward line into total uncertainty.
The problem for Essendon is that – for almost the last decade – its finals hopes have largely been predicated on its spine. Cale Hooker, Michael Hurley, Zach Merrett, Joe Daniher and Jake Stringer have fuelled excited murmurings in Bombers circles of late.
All of a sudden, most of those key pylons could be extinct within two years. No picks in this year’s draft – by all accounts void of elite talls – would suffice to replace Daniher in the short or long term.
Squeezing another year out of the Daniher sponge by playing hardball gives Essendon its best crack at a top-four tilt in recent memory. The last time they had a proper run at a season with a spearhead up front was 2017, when they finished eighth and didn’t give a whimper in an elimination against the Swans.
Since then however, they’ve added Stringer, Saad, Smith, Shiel and two seasons of experience to their kids. McGrath, Parish and Francis are on their way to the next level.
Almost as importantly, Dodoro digging his heels in gives Essendon time. In a trade period where the list of key forwards up for grabs is utterly uninspiring, it buys Dodoro 12 months to plot his next move.
12 months to wave Daniher’s spare salary at any goal-kicking tall who will pay attention, or 12 months to convince Daniher he should stay. The precedent is Aaron Francis, who was dead set on returning home to South Australia in late 2017 but has now come around and is locked in for three years.
(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos)
Peter Ryan differentiates the Tim Kelly situation from Daniher’s because Kelly was “happy at the club despite asking to leave”, implying Daniher isn’t. Until evidence to the contrary comes to light, Dodoro has to be taken at his word that Daniher “has a great relationship with the club…It was just in his eyes that he felt a change of lifestyle.” It can’t be disputed that Kelly’s family circumstances demand much more sympathy and reason to agree to send him west.
Ryan’s logic should be applied to more replaceable players like Orazio Fantasia, who could be farmed off and have his spot filled by an 18-year-old if Dodoro nails his draft strategy. Daniher is a genuine power forward who can sit on heads and kick goals from 60 on Anzac Day.
He’s not to be let go for a first round pick and a steak knife, especially seeing as they’d receive a first round pick if he was to leave via free agency at the end of 2020 regardless. By then Essendon can position itself to be more prepared, with the monkey of the finals drought off its back.
asd
Guest
just a waste leave him at the dons
Jarrod
Guest
If he wants to go let him,.what if he stats with us for another year and we get nothing?.How can the Melbourne bubble change in.a year
Davico
Roar Pro
How will it change?? You would have to match a contract for a player (Has never happened), and he could then just nominate for the draft anyway! There is zero possibility of you getting more for next year vs this year. Bombers fans seem to live in some alternate reality where they are top 4 side and all clubs must bow down to their demands. Keep him this year! I am sure that a guy that does not want to be there will push through any niggle to get on the field and play his guts out for you!!! :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Davico
Roar Pro
What premiership window are you talking about? When was the last time Essendon won a finals game again??? Delusional!
Davico
Roar Pro
Just to clear up a couple of things: - Moore Park where the Swans are based is not in Bondi! - WADA did not flip the organization on its head. The Bombers did that all by themselves by trying to cheat the comp with systemic doping. - The hypocrisy of Melb clubs demanding unrealistic trades for their players but demanding interstate clubs play ball with players who want to go to Melb is astounding!!
anon
Roar Pro
Reality is sometimes positive, sometimes negative. Daniher is worth a second round pick and that's all.
Aransan
Roar Rookie
You seem to follow Monty Python: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHPOzQzk9Qo
Aransan
Roar Rookie
The impression I had was that Worsfold was frustrated with Daniher. Goddard felt that Daniher was responsible for some of his own medical issues. I think we can all empathise with Daniher over the issues he has faced over the last two years without necessarily blaming anyone. I am sure everyone at the club and Essendon supporters would be thrilled if he decides to stay.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Aransan are you saying daniher doesn't like worsfold? I read the family don't go a bundle on Worlsfold or the medical team but one can't quite be sure . Be a shame for Joey to go to sydney in the next few years after an average run . I could understand on the back side of his career . Could really turn around for him this year
anon
Roar Pro
But he's injury prone, doesn't have anything close to Franklin's agility, athleticism and durability, and just isn't that good.
6x6 perkele
Roar Rookie
Injury prone is why they are saying he's like buddy maybe
anon
Roar Pro
People are talking about Daniher like he's Buddy Franklin. He's injury prone and has had two decent seasons in his career. It's called reality.
Aransan
Roar Rookie
You always look on the bright side.
Aransan
Roar Rookie
I believe Daniher will stay and will be happy to do so. He can't be replaced in the 2019 draft and will be important in Essendon's 2020 finals bid. There has been an important change in Essendon's coaching panel which will assist in Daniher staying.
Kick to kick
Guest
If Daniher stays in 2020 then still wants to go to Sydney not even a desperate Essendon is likely to match a long term multi - million dollar contract given he’ll have told the Bombers two years running he doesn’t want to be with the club. It would be re-committing long term to an unhappy marriage. It’s never happened to a restricted free agent and in the real world won’t. The Bombers might think about matching a bud as s bluff to force Sydney to trade next year, but the Swans may not have top ten picks to trade in 2020 and will also want to save draft points to pay for a couple of promising Swans academy prospects. If Sydney calls the bluff the Bombers will be left with an expensive, long term and disgruntled player. I don’t think any board would be happy with that calculus. The club may have him stay in 2020 and rekindle the romance so that he decides to recommit. If so good luck Essendon. But if not the Bombers will be lucky to get 1st round compensation at the end of 2020. Player compensation gets downgraded by approximately ten places once a player turns 26 which Daniher will do mid 2020. Although Essendon probably wants Daniher more than Sydney wants him, it’s in the interests of the Bombers to strike the best deal they can this year.
Sabsy
Guest
100% agree. At this stage we won't get what he's truly worth. After a year of good footy that will change.
anon
Roar Pro
Joe Daniher is the Mitch Marsh of Aussie Rules.
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
Do this even if he's injury riddled again? Or performs poorly? Both scenarios are possible and if that happens his value plummets. Business yeah, but risky business.
Aransan
Roar Rookie
He will only be a restricted free agent, Essendon could match any offer and if he walked they would get compensation likely to be at the end of the first round.
Seano
Roar Rookie
I totally agree and would go one step further, once he plays this year out and excersizes his restricted free agency just match it. No way that Sydney can pay anymore than we can, just match it. He will stay or end up in the draft where it’s chook lotto. Yes he can name his price and contract length but again, who would t pay it? He could be on the GC or freo or we re draft him. Then he sits out unpaid for 12 months or not, honestly this is a business not a fairytale.