AFL Draft news: Essendon open to live trade to shuffle down order

The Bombers are determined to pull off a draft night strategy that could see them nailing a powerful midfielder to round out their onball unit. But do they need pick four to do it?

Essendon is open to a draft night trade that would push the Bombers down the draft order while still securing their No.1 midfield target, but it would take a compelling offer.

The Bombers are determined to pull off a draft night strategy that could see them nailing a powerful midfielder like Mattaes Phillipou to round out their onball unit as well as selecting a trio of exciting Indigenous talents.

They have picks 4, 22, 54, 68 and 72, and ideally would use the early pick and selection 22 before a club lodges a bid on father-son prospect Alwyn Davey Jr.

Clubs are likely to consider Davey from the late teens onwards, and Essendon will surely match that bid, but would love to secure a bonus player at pick 22 before his name is called.

But before that they will have a decision on the No.4 pick – set to drift to pick 5 after Will Ashcroft’s father-son selection at Brisbane.

Essendon is interested in Phillipou, an exciting 190cm, 89kg Woodville West Torrens mid-forward equally adept in the centre square or pushing into attack with his strong overhead marking.

But if they believed they could secure him with a pick later in the top 10 it could allow them to secure a second selection – likely in next year’s draft – as the price for easing down the top 10.

St Kilda is one club at pick 10 who has ambitions for a higher draft selection.

Mattaes Phillipou is a likely top-10 draft pick. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Essendon football boss Josh Mahoney said all options were still on the table as the Dons work through a range of scenarios ahead of next week’s national draft.

“There have been a lot of discussions (with other clubs) before the pick swap period ended on November 15. But being able to trade live on the night, there are some scenarios that have been thrown our way from clubs, and that’s an important part of what we do.

“We plan well and maximise this period for us and if there is an opportunity with a deal that benefits us we will certainly look at it, but we are excited by the player we are going to get at that end of the draft as well.

“It’s important we maximise the talent when we have access to the high end of the draft. We will be looking to do that and it’s an important next days to continue our planning around what draft night looks like.”

Davey’s brother Jayden will be a later selection or even fall through to the rookie draft, while fellow Indigenous talent Anthony Munkara looks a high-upside forward from West Adelaide who the Dons can secure as an academy talent if he drifts outside the draft’s top 40 picks.