WITH the 2021 trade period done and dusted, it is now time for clubs and fans alike to turn their attention to the draft. Between now and draft day (November 24/25), clubs have had the opportunity to exchange picks with the final order formed just over a week out. While the chaos settles, Rookie Me Central takes a look at how each club may approach the upcoming intake with the hand they formed at the close of trade period.

Next under the microscope are the Essendon Bombers, whose first round pick looks a lonely figure as it stands, but is set to be bolstered as the Bombers look to trade back into round two.

CURRENT PICKS: 11, 51, 56, 87

2022 PICKS: ESS Round 1, ESS Round 2, ESS Round 3

ELIGIBLE ACADEMY/FATHER-SON PICKS:

Tex Wanganeen (F/S)*, Nyawi Moore (F/S)*

* – denotes club elected against nomination

LIST NEEDS:

+ Taller midfielders
+ Small forward

FIRST PICK OPTIONS:
(Pick 11)

More likely to be pick 13 after the matched bids of Nick Daicos and Sam Darcy, Essendon will be hoping a player they rate as a top 10 prospect becomes available and even better, suiting a position of need. There is no shortage of Victorian prospects which Essendon have favoured at the top end of the draft in recent years, with Aaron Francis at pick six in 2015 the last non-Victorian taken in the first round, but if interstate players like Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Neil Erasmus, Matthew Johnson, and Arlo Draper are available they will be hard to ignore with, all four above 186cm and midfielders to boot.

In terms of home state prospects, you have Josh Goater, who could hardly be any more local as a Calder Cannons prospect who already played one game for Essendon’s VFL side. He fits Essendon’s recent draft strategy for first round prospects to a tee, but some other Victorian prospects who could loom include Tyler Sonsie, Josh Sinn, Campbell Chesser, Mitchell Knevitt, and finally Darcy Wilmot, who is a former teammate of Nik Cox who was excellent in his debut AFL season this year. There are not any small forward options looming for this pick, with Josh Rachele a likely top 10 selection, although in terms of smaller types who could play as a small forward early on, Sonsie and Draper are viable options.

REMAINING CROP:

Essendon has been on record looking to trade back into the second round of this year’s draft with its future second rounder on the table, and it wouldn’t surprise to see only one of the current picks in the 50s get used. Whether the Bombers are able to score another second round pick or not, there would be no shortage of small forwards to choose from.

Starting with possible options if they can trade into the second round, you have Vic Country prospects Judson Clarke and Sam Butler, who would both be great fits and although he is more of a midfielder, Zac Taylor is another Calder prospect who has played a game for Essendon’s VFL side. If not local, Jesse Motlop is a Fremantle NGA talent, but the Dockers are unable to match a bid in the top 40 of the draft and he could feature early next year after playing well at League level for South Fremantle.

If the Bombers keep to picks 51 and 56, they could hope exciting forward Paul Curtis is available as a local talent, or another dynamic forward in Kai Lohmann, who makes things happen inside 50. There could be some value from South Australia with two injury struck players in Cooper Murley and James Willis, who both have the ability to also play through the midfield. Other players potentially in the mix include smooth moving wingman Ronald Fejo Jnr and Jamieson Ballantyne, or even the light framed but agile forward from Sandringham, Luke Nankervis, who has plenty of upside.

KEY QUESTIONS:

> Do the Bombers address needs or best available with pick 11?
> Will future picks come into play?
> Do the Bombers look at a mature small forward later in the draft after missing out on Ian Hill?

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