AFL trades: Will Dylan Shiel have Blue regret if Joe Daniher leaves?
When Dylan Shiel chose the Bombers over the Blues, he took less money than what he could have earned elsewhere to be part of something special at Tullamarine. Joe Daniher could cripple that vision.
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The conversation with Dylan Shiel would be an awkward one.
When he chose the Bombers over the Blues last year, the gun midfielder took less money than what he could have earned elsewhere to be part of something special at Tullamarine.
About $2 million less, to be precise.
In the end, the quality of the Bombers’ list was one of the biggest carrots in that whole deal.
But if Joe Daniher goes, will Shiel rue the decision not to choose a Carlton side looking for slingshot move up the ladder 2020?
You’d forgive Shiel for having second thoughts if Daniher departs and the Bombers are forced to hit the draft again with the couple of top picks Sydney would have to hand over to secure the gun spearhead.
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This year’s draft class is light on for top-line big men and there is no time, really, to prise a top-line forward out of another club with only two days left in the trade period.
So even if the Swans hand over picks No. 5 and No. 9 and Daniher leaves, do the Bombers go forwards or backwards?
In terms of next year’s premiership race, it would have to be a backwards move unless someone can fill his shoes out of the goalsquare.
The groin issues are a complicating factor, but would Sydney be going after him if they didn’t think his groins were on the improve? Unlikely.
No one in the industry doubts Daniher can get back to the top level despite missing the bulk of the past two seasons.
And what about Cale Hooker, who turned 31 on Sunday, and Michael Hurley who is 29? The pair went through hell in the supplements scandal only to stay loyal to the Bombers in the hope the club could still pull off a miraculous flag.
Now, they’re looking at Essendon’s premiership window taking a huge hit if Daniher walks, without a straight replacement.
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They’ve got some good big forwards, the Bombers, in Mitch Brown, Shaun McKernan and James Stewart, but they’re not Daniher.
The athletic goal kicker was a point of difference in 2017 when he won the best and fairest and All-Australian selection.
And who stood up in Richmond’s premiership tilt on the big stage this year? Tom Lynch and Jack Riewoldt both snagged five goals each in the two biggest finals, while West Coast had twin towers last year and Tom Boyd was arguably the hero of Western’ Bulldogs flag win in 2016.
Before that a couple of guys called Lance Franklin, Jarryd Roughead, Jack Gunston and David Hale did the job for the Hawks.
Who is that at Essendon, other that Daniher?
It explains Essendon’s hard line stance on the Daniher matter, considering he is contracted for one more year at Tullamarine.
So, while picks No. 5 and No. 9 might be decent compensation for a player like Daniher on paper, practically it doesn’t help the Bombers’ much, without a like-for-like replacement when they try and win their first final next season for the first time in the best part of two decades.
They need a Jesse Hogan or a Jeremy Cameron. Even a Ben King or a Harry McKay, and all of them are going nowhere. Is Josh Jenkins the answer?
Ben Brown is arguably the best chance, as North would love another injection of young gun talent, but then who fills their key forward void?
In any case, the compensation for the loss of Daniher would have to be something that blows Essendon away to get the Bombers to budge on this.
Perhaps it was always going to be tough for Essendon to win a flag when the club lost three early draft picks as punishment for the supplements scandal.
The draft penalties are largely forgotten but it was a significant blow in terms of the top-end talent.
The Bombers have done well to try and stay in the hunt, but the grand plan was built around Daniher, the father-son gem who was first spotted on an indoor soccer court as a young teenager.
While nothing is guaranteed, the biggest risk for the Bombers right now is letting him go.
Originally published as AFL trades: Will Dylan Shiel have Blue regret if Joe Daniher leaves?
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