ESSENDON was one of the key players at this year’s AFL Draft, continuing to accelerate its rebuild with three quality additions in the first round. The Bombers were forced to pass up on one Next Generation Academy (NGA) talent, but picked up another among their haul of five draftees.

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DRAFT HAUL

NATIONAL DRAFT:

Pick 9. Sullivan Robey
Pick 10. Jacob Farrow
Pick 13. Dyson Sharp
Pick 36. Max Kondogiannis
Pick 53. Hussien El Achkar

>> CLICK each player’s names for full profiles & highlights

While this year’s crop has copped its fair share of flack for a lack of depth, Essendon “really believed” in the top-end of the draft and wanted as much access as early as possible. That meant trading in for Carlton’s pick nine to make it a trio of top-10 selections, which ended up being nine, 10, and 13.

After being overlooked by Richmond, Sullivan Robey was the first name called out by Essendon. The 192cm physical beast came on strongly in the back-end of the year, and that kind of development also saw West Australian Jacob Farrow selected with the very next pick.

Between the pair, there is plenty of upside and power. The Bombers now have a grunt midfielder who can go forward, and a smooth-moving defender with scope to also play through the middle. Rounding out the top-end trio was Larke Medallist Dyson Sharp, the most pure onballer of the three.

The Bombers were hopeful but not 100 per cent sure Sharp would make it past Melbourne’s consecutive picks, and had several notable offers from clubs targeting the South Australian. Opting to keep the pick obtained via Carlton, they landed a second childhood supporter who they ranked very highly.

Essendon’s only other call to make on night one surrounded NGA graduate Adam Sweid, who walked to Fremantle with pick 25. The Bombers could not match at that stage without entering points deficit, but would later snap up Hussien El Achkar after Richmond’s bid at pick 53.

El Achkar bolsters the Bombers’ small forward stocks and is a pure goalsneak likely to run amok alongside fellow academy product Isaac Kako. He got a look-in at VFL level this year and has had the luxury of training with the senior group, so should fit in seamlessly.

He was Essendon’s fifth overall pick, with Oakleigh Chargers defender Max Kondogiannis being the fourth. A tall and rangy but quick interceptor, he may not directly fit a positional need but is a metres-gained player who can do damage with his speed and kicking on the rebound.

Essendon did not make a rookie selection. Delisted Carlton running machine Jaxon Binns has been lighting up the track with the Bombers’ main group. He’s signed to Essendon’s VFL affiliate, while axed midfielder Will Setterfield may get the opportunity to trial for a lifeline.

GRADE: A

Perhaps the only thing preventing Essendon’s haul from being an A+ is it couldn’t manufacture a way to keep Sweid. Although, Bombers fans will be thrilled to have a trio of earlier first round selections head through the door in a well considered and balanced draft haul. Their trade execution was on point, able to obtain Carlton’s pick nine despite standing their ground on Zach Merrett. The maligned skipper now gets two bigger bodies and a classy half-back as support in the engine room. Tick.