CHANGE is in the air at Windy Hill, or Tullamarine, as Essendon enters its first AFL Draft in over 30 years without Adrian Dodoro. New list boss Matt Rosa has moulded the Bombers’ hand around an exciting Academy prospect, though there remains potential to trade back into the first round for a second bite.

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2024 RECORD: 11th | 11-11-1 | 93.5%
2024 PICKS: 28, 31, 40, 46, 53, 54, 65
FUTURE PICKS: ESS R1, MEL R1, ESS R2, ESS R4
ACADEMY/FATHER-SON NOMINEES: Isaac Kako, Jayden Nguyen (both NGA)

FIRST PICK:
Pick 28

Essendon’s first selection will be a matched bid for Next-Generation Academy (NGA) gun Isaac Kako, whose Iraqi descent ties him to the club. The Bombers traded away pick nine to ensure it wouldn’t be eaten up in the bidding process, but will land back around that range when Kako’s name is called out.

Clubs in the mix to apply a bid include St Kilda (picks 7 & 8), Richmond (picks 10 & 11), and Port Adelaide (pick 13), which would keep Essendon highly accountable. Should it come in that range, and depending on who is left on the board, the Bombers could then trade back into the first round.

Having acquired Melbourne’s future first round selection, it looks like being up for grabs if Essendon can land another pick in the teens in return. What Kako offers, though, is exactly the livewire small forward Bombers fans have been crying out for, boasting speed, innate goal sense and high creativity.

REMAINING CROP:

With talk of trading back into the first round, Essendon could target a number of player archetypes. Alix Tauru is one the Bombers like but he’ll likely be long gone by then, while Jobe Shanahan showed his wares in the red and black at VFL level, booting 11 goals in three state league appearances.

Otherwise, perhaps some running power is in the offing. Utilities Tobie Travaglia and Xavier Lindsay have the versatility to play on flanks, the outside, or on-ball, and suit the modern game with how they move the ball. Alternatively, 191cm powerhouse Bo Allan has points of difference to potentially be a midfielder.

A prospect who will likely be in high demand around Essendon’s landing spot will be Joe Berry. The depth of this year’s draft means there may well be many more utilities and tall talents available later on, so doubling up on small forwards would not be out of place. He plays differently to Kako, anyway.

There is every possibility that Essendon overlooks another shot at picking in the teens, meaning it would re-enter the fold in the second round. The consideration of a second NGA member, Jayden Nguyen, will also be front of find. The best case scenario sees him slide through to be pre-listed as a rookie.

Depending on where the Bombers see their list sitting, mature-agers could also be on the cards with a few supplementary spots left over. Kaine Baldwin is set to train with the club after being delisted, while the likes of Jaxon Prior and Josh Rotham have been linked as other tall defenders in the mix.

KEY QUESTIONS:

– How early will the Kako bid arrive?
– Will the Bombers trade back into Round 1?
– What type of player(s) will the Bombers target later on?