Clark: Essendon should inquire about North Melbourne forward Ben Brown to help shore up Sydney Joe Daniher deal
Would Essendon ask the question of Ben Brown if North Melbourne could secure picks No. 5 and No. 9 from Sydney as part of a three-way trade involving Joe Daniher? Jay Clark says it could satisfy all three clubs.
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North Melbourne key forward Ben Brown could be the answer to everyone’s prayers this trade period.
As much as the curly-haired Tasmanian is fully committed to the Kangaroos’ cause under new coach Rhyce Shaw, he looms as the one man who could help solve all of Essendon and Sydney’s problems over the next two days.
And give North the ammunition at the draft table the Roos missed out on over the past decade under former coach Brad Scott.
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Essendon needs a ready-made key forward to replace Joe Daniher if the club is going to permit the spearhead’s trade request to the Swans.
The 200cm Brown is contracted until the end of next season but could receive a juicy long-term contract extension at the Bombers to move to Tullamarine.
Brown, 26, would be an ideal replacement for Daniher, having snagged 188 goals in the past three seasons.
He is widely regarded as one of the best key forwards in the game and has one of the highest workrates in the caper.
Bomber fans would love to imagine Dylan Shiel and Zach Merrett hitting him up in Daniher’s absence.
But but the biggest question he is ‘Why would the Roos let him go?’
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If the Swans are prepared to hand over picks No.5 and No. 9 (from Carlton for Tom Papley), those two top-10 choices could go from the Swans to the Roos as part of a diamond-encrusted three-way trade.
North Melbourne already has pick No. 8 and otherwise aren’t doing much in this trade period.
But if the Roos could land picks No. 5 and No. 9 as well, they could secure a trio of high-end choices to help fuel the new era at the club. It’s a rare opportunity from a list build perspective.
North has a nucleus of young talent already which the club is extremely excited about and we loved what we saw from Drew Petrie-clone Nick Larkey, Tarryn Thomas and Bailey Scott among others.
But would another three young stars help the push for long-term success if the Roos probably aren’t going to win a flag for the next three years while Brown is in his prime?
Those close to Brown are saying the goal kicker isn’t going anywhere, happy to stay at Arden St and feast on the work of re-signed midfielder Shaun Higgins and Ben Cunnington.
But for a club which has largely gone without top-10 draft picks over the past decade other than Jack Ziebell, Cunnington and Luke Davies-Uniacke, it would be an interesting conversation if the Bombers pick up the phone to Brady Rawlings over the next 48 hours.
Clearly, Brown has to approve the move and that is a long way from happening, but if the Bombers are going to get a straight replacement for Daniher, the man with the longest run-up in football looms as the best option.