AFL Draft: Essendon’s trade period move around Isaac Kako bid slammed

The Bombers had a relatively quiet trade period by their standards, instead focusing on Isaac Kako. But after securing the small forward, their method has been whacked by a draft expert.

Essendon’s trade period gamble around an Isaac Kako academy bid has fallen flat with the decision to trade pick 11 labelled an “absolute blunder”.

The Bombers traded away their first pick in this draft to Melbourne – used by the Dees on midfield talent Xavier Lindsay at No. 11 – last month to prepare for a bid on academy goalkicker Kako.

The trade netted Essendon Melbourne’s 2025 first round pick.

But a bid on Kako on Wednesday night didn’t come until Richmond at No. 13, which was duly matched by the Dons, meaning Essendon could have taken a top talent like Lindsay while still building up points to match for Kako.

The Bombers also could have waited until draft night to pull the trigger on a trade, allowing an extra month to gather more intel on where a Kako bid would come.

Kako was presented his Essendon jumper by Dustin Fletcher. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

St Kilda had shown interest in Kako but instead bid on Gold Coast academy player Leo Lombard at pick seven.

Essendon was happy to bank a future first round pick in the deal and had some hopes of using its future selections to get back in to the current draft.

But Fox Footy draft expert Mick Ablett blasted the move as Essendon waited for a Kako bid, declaring the Bombers got bluffed by rival sides.

“Staggering by Essendon to trade out pick nine (which became 11), they must have thought a bid was going to come for Isaac Kako prior to that,” he told Fox Footy.

“That is the only reason you would get rid of that selection. In all due respect, I didn’t think it would come that early.

“I just think it is an absolute blunder by Essendon. They are going to have their work cut out for them in this draft to get back in and select some high-end talent.

“I think Essendon have had one pulled over them and just given up an elite talent at pick nine in what we have spoken about as an elite draft.”

Kako was one of the most exciting forward prospects in the class. Picture: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos

It took until the fifth pick for a bid to come for Brisbane father-son Levi Ashcroft, when Melbourne forced the Lions’ hand.

Many draft experts rated Ashcroft as the top talent in the draft but the Lions got him for a steal as Richmond (Sam Lalor), North Melbourne (Finn O’Sullivan), Carlton (Jagga Smith) and Adelaide (Sid Draper) didn’t put in a bid.

Brisbane matched the final bid of Wednesday night, when Sydney raised its hand for midfielder Sam Marshall at pick 25.

The straight-talking Ashcroft said he was surprised a bid didn’t come for him until pick five.

“Previous years show that it (a bid) it’s normally not (pick) one. Either way now it doesn’t matter, just let the footy do the talking,” he said.

“You want to be the best, you want to be recognised as the best and I proved that this year that I was one of the best if not the best. Hopefully I can continue to prove that next year.”

Originally published as AFL Draft: Essendon’s trade period move around Isaac Kako bid slammed