Essendon trade news: Adrian Dodoro provides an update on Ben McKay, Dylan Shiel, Jade Gresham and Todd Goldstein
Essendon will retain Dylan Shiel after interest from St Kilda cooled, plus see updates on all the other Bombers’ trade news here.
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Essendon’s six-year contract for free agent Ben McKay worth nearly $5 million of guaranteed money should hand North Melbourne the No.3 draft pick as the Dons officially added ruckman Todd Goldstein to their list.
It comes with the Dons and Roos still waiting for official confirmation of that McKay free agency compensation on a day when Xavier Duursma also confirmed he wanted to join Essendon.
Duursma will slot into a wing position at Essendon and the Dons would love to move up the draft order to secure his brother Zane, a hard-running 190cm mid-forward.
On a jam-packed day, St Kilda’s interest in Dylan Shiel is believed to have cooled after recent knee surgery, his second operation on his knees since 2021.
The Dons said the meniscus surgery would sideline him out for 4-6 weeks “after an innocuous incident while at home with his young daughter”.
Shiel should be ready to run again by the start of Essendon’s pre-season for senior players on November 27 but it is another blow after surgery for Sam Draper and Jake Stringer.
The Saints had been keen to at least explore whether Shiel might move to St Kilda but after offering Dan Hannebery a long-term deal that backfired badly they are no longer interested
The Dons will lodge a deal of at least three years for St Kilda mid-forward Jade Gresham as early as Tuesday, hopeful of first-round or end-of-first-round compensation which would see the Saints decline to match that bid.
The Roos will hope they can secure the No.3 pick as compensation which will mean the Roos have picks 2, 3, 15, 21 and two end-of-first-round selections next year.
Roos list boss Brady Rawlings made clear his club would match any free agency bid which only secured an end-of-first-round pick.
McKay averaged 3.8 intercept marks this year and will give great white defensive hope Zac Reid time to develop into his body.
Essendon is aware St Kilda will assess the club’s offer for Gresham with a view to matching it.
“I think there is upside. Jade is not an Essendon player but he’s a talented player who plays half forward and on ball and it‘s a need we are looking to fill,” list boss Adrian Dodoro said.
“If we are fortunate enough to get him that’s great but there is a free agency process and they can match the bid. I am cautious to say he will be an Essendon player.”
Duursma’s trade request could help the Power secure Essendon full back Brandon Zerk-Thatcher.
The Power have stated a deal for Durrsma and a move to secure Zerk-Thatcher does not have to be linked but the move for the wingman will give the Power more trade collateral.
The Dons denied on Monday they had asked for a first-round pick for Zerk-Thatcher but privately they believe he is worth the same compensation as Ratugolea.
The Cats are likely to be offered pick 23 (which could push back) by the Power for Ratugolea.
Dodoro said the club would allow Goldstein the chance to take over the No.1 ruck spot on merit but made clear coach Brad Scott would play multiple rucks each game.
He said Sam Draper’s groin surgery had gone well, with the club adamant he would be fully fit for round 1.
“The intention is to have a great ruck combination. We have two really good rucks in Draper and Nick Bryan and we lost Andrew Phillips who had an outstanding year so Goldy has still got the opportunity to play league footy. Form will determine it. I don’t think anyone has a right over the No.1 ruck spot. If he is in form he will get the opportunity.
“Todd will help Bryan in running patterns and professionalism. By all reports the operation with Draper was successful and he will be up and running and he will be available for round 1 next year.
“Brad likes to play two rucks and that’s the way he structures up each week. It’s part of our DNA to play two rucks each week and we also feel Drapes can go forward and play as a robust big forward at times.”
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