The Essendon Bombers spent the entire trade period in 2019 flying evasive manoeuvres trying to keep hold of Joe Daniher, only to drop him cold and take the early compensation pick in 2020 free agency, ironically at the same value of Carlton’s pick from 2019 that caused such dramas for Sydney and the Gold Coast.
On the first day of the second trade window, the Bombers landed a home-grown replacement for Daniher in Peter Wright for a mere fourth-rounder, which could well turn out to be the most underrated move of the entire 2020 horse-trading period.
There was a touch of de ja vu this year, with Adam Saad nominating Carlton as his preferred trade destination and again the reluctance from the Blues in relinquishing such an early pick stalling trade negotiations, yet with a pair of high picks in hand the Bombers added a little sweetener and got their flush of picks.
That left Adrian Dodoro with what he needed in order to do what was necessary to land a big fish on the final day of trading, however, all he managed to achieve was swapping Orazio Fantasia for Jye Caldwell and getting Nick Hind back from St Kilda.
The picks involved in all the swaps meant that Essendon ended up with a draft hand consisting of a trio of first-rounders and some late picks to match bids on their pair of NGA-tied talls, with a future second-rounder going to the Giants and future fourth-rounder off to the Suns, but a 2021 third-round pick stashed away.
In one of the more dramatic top-order draft calls, it looked like the Bombers might get a slider out of the top-rated players when Elijah Hollands was still on the board at Pick 7, yet Gold Coast took him and Essendon had the call with the seven most highly-fancied players already claimed.
At Pick 8, they took the draft bolter Nikolas Cox from the Northern Knights, then with Pick 9 they grabbed Archie Perkins from Sandringham Dragons and then they snapped up Zach Reid from Gippsland Power.
Later in the draft, as they positioned themselves for two final picks while wary of a strike on their NGA prospects, the Bombers were ready when Josh Eyre attracted a bid at pick 39 from Richmond and they matched it, returning serve with a bid on Maurice Rioli Jnr which was very quickly matched by the Tigers.
When the Bulldogs put a bid in for Cody Brand, the Bombers were ready to match and close up shop for the draft having secured four key position players and a quality midfielder.
Cox is the unicorn of the 2020 draft. Where other top players have senior experience or bottom age success, Cox just has a complete package for a modern footballer with height, size, speed, kicking off two feet and the skill to play virtually anywhere on the ground.
Perkins is another bolter, coming in earlier than anticipated having sat out the entire 2020 season, but his draft combine scores and impressive presentation got him selected as the fourth-best midfielder in the draft.
Reid was the sixth key-position player taken in the top ten, with Essendon taking no chances on missing out on a quality tall, having been a standout performer in Gippsland’s finals run last year and demonstrating this year that he is one of the premium athletes in the top part of the draft.
Eyre and Brand both come from the Calder Cannons and although they are similar sizes, they play at opposing ends, with the former a developing forward and the latter a raw-boned key defender.
With Cox and Hind replacing the run of Connor McKenna and Saad, Caldwell adding some class to the midfield, Perkins potentially taking Fantasia’s place up forward and Wright stepping into Daniher’s role, the Bombers have more than adequately replaced their key departing players, especially considering three of them did not have large contributions to the 2020 season anyway.
Essendon will be counting on Peter Wright. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
The Bombers are by no means an ageing side, however, some of their best players are getting on and a few top players just left, so like the head coach, a succession plan had to be enacted sooner rather than later.
There are some players here who will slide straight into the best 22 and others who may take three years to develop, but by recruiting a group of this quality together, retirements won’t hurt with ready-made replacements already on the roster.
Cracka
Roar Rookie
Well I have to agree 100% when you look at what happen with the Suns I do wonder the impact of losing both Saad and Conor McKenna from the Essendon list and what will happen to them when they try to move the ball out of their back 50. Thats how important that running half back is to any side. I’m not sure the issues they will face or who they will replace those 2 with, I haven’t worked them out yet as I feel their structure has completely changed and I have no idea where they may finish in season 2021.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
I prefer Big Dog, but it will take a while to catch on. See Riley Beveridge report in Nik Cox doing a Zoom interview where he accidentally left his username as Big Dog.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
Keep an eye on Austin Harris from Cairns, though you must be reading about him in the papers every other week. Just got named in the AFL Academy squad of 21, which is a huge deal. I know his dad and a couple of others from up in Cairns. I hope you get some games there in future because the AFL made the Suns move their 11th game to Darwin for the talent on offer, but Cairns is providing just as much elite talent.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
Daniher kicked a lot of out of bounds shots in that run of seasons, but you make a fair point. Wright is a much better set shot and can kick the ball a long way. Both have been unfairly judged because of their time out of the game in recent seasons. The fact is that Wright produced better footy than King and Day in 2019, except for marks inside 50, which is unfair because Wright so much time in the ruck and up the ground. In the end, the Suns stuck with what they had all year in King and Day, with the shortened games really not suiting 2MP, who is a marathon running ambler with a game style that no longer matched the Suns game plan. I’m going to miss him and not enjoy watching him flourish in the red sash, but maybe that’s his destiny.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
It set the Suns back when Adam Saad left, although they replaced him initially with Lachie Weller and Pearce Hanley. The position is still open 3 years later, although there’s been heavy recruiting to fill the position. It’s the most under-rated position in footy because if you don’t have a speedy player who can defend and rebound you can’t get out of defensive 50 against teams that flood the zone.
Maxy
Roar Rookie
I just read an article that stated Ports interest in Merrett,hmmm very interesting,wouldn't go there if couldn't afford it,watch this space pts
Lukey Miller
Guest
Polly Farmer had one leg shorter than the other. He did OK, but tended to make his opponents run around in circles.
Maxy
Roar Rookie
geez,I was alot earlier,90 or 91 I think
Russ
Roar Rookie
Hi Hub - when you did you play for Coolaroo FC - I played for them in early 2000's before going to the Warwick Redbacks.
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
Wet tropics is bloody gods country :stoked: Cities suck and Brisbane... you may as well stay in Melbourne, weather's nearly the same. Yep, the more I think about it, it's pretty much Melbourne without the NGV or the MCG. So obviously still a million million times better than Sydney, but not better than living out in the hinterland!
2dogz
Roar Rookie
Cairns! You went full Qld! :thumbup:
Maxy
Roar Rookie
Yeah,not sure about all that side of things chuck, latest part of that success was in the 90's,money gets gobbled up pretty quick,paying license fee to join AFL wouldn't come cheap either,we got bad stadium deals etc etc. like Pelican said above
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
I would have thought the whole winning a bunch of SANFL premierships would pay well
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
I am also Vic to QLD :happy: I'll never go back! Just itching for the Bombers to get a few good games at Cazaly in Cairns - I'll be the first one in line :stoked:
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
If Wright is even close to the Fish I'll be happy. How he could make the Hawthorn team of the century after about 6 seasons and yet miss out on the Essendon one defies description. He was a unique player; a top level ruckman who was also a genuine full forward, not just the rest-in-the-forwardline type. On his day, in either position, he really was unstoppable. So, big wraps on Peter!
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
Me too, my coach said I was equally useless on both sides :laughing:
Footyguy
Guest
That is the first time someone has called Nik Cox 'Nikolas'
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Pies are clearly interested in Merrett.
Maxy
Roar Rookie
I know he gets bagged about his kicking for goal,but if you look at his returns say from 2014 he kicked 28.20- 2015 34.24-2016 43.32-2017 65.39 that is quite frightening the projectory he was on,can understand why essendon wanted to try and keep him,just hope he can get back back to his best for his sake,not so much us opposition sides
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
So I think the bombers have done well if you consider this trade period independently of everything else. However, it becomes an egregious indictment when you consider it within the context of them recruiting for the now with players like Dylan shiel and Devon smith. They haven’t taken a first round pick since 2016 before this year and that’s gonna kill their depth.