AFL trades 2021: Essendon losses not helping case to keep Zach Merrett

Essendon’s first win is tough to pinpoint and every loss makes the case to keep Zach Merrett harder. Are the Bombers fighting a losing battle?

Should the Bombers have gone harder for Josh Dunkley? Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

Essendon saw the freight train coming.

When the negotiations with the Western Bulldogs ramped up over Josh Dunkley’s future last year, it was clear the Dogs would only do the deal if they got two early first-round draft picks.

That was last year’s pick six and a future first-round pick from this year’s draft.

Dogs’ list boss Sam Power said, “We have a really clear asking price for him.”

And quite rightly, that is where the Bombers baulked.

As things stand, that second pick is currently a top-two selection, and Essendon knew even before trade time last year that 2021 was going to be extremely tough.

And particularly after Joe Daniher, Adam Saad and Orazio Fantasia walked out.

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Josh Dunkley had a huge game against the Pies — but could have been doing it for the Bombers. Picture: Michael Klein

Dunkley is a jet onballer, who has enjoyed a hot start to the season averaging 27.5 disposals (above average), 11.5 contested possessions (above average), nine ground ball gets (above average) four clearances (average) and six tackles (elite) a game across the Bulldogs’ first two wins of the year, according to Champion Data.

There was criticism at the time that Essendon should have gone harder for Dunkley, and let him down.

But there was no way the 24-year-old was worth picks five and two to the Bombers at a time when the club has embarked on a full rebuild.

Dunkley is part of a potent Bulldogs midfield that added Adam Treloar. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

To put that deal in context, Richmond snared Dion Prestia in 2016 for pick six and a swap of second-rounders. Dunkley isn’t twice the player Prestia was at the same age.

But where is Essendon at? Former Fremantle and St Kilda coach Ross Lyon said bluntly the Bombers “are at ground zero, the bottom of the mountain.”

“I like what they did at the draft this year with the young talls,” Lyon said.

“But they are in for some pain.”

Especially after losing almost half of its midfield for several months on Saturday when ruckman Sam Draper (ankle) and ballwinners Dylan Shiel (meniscus) and Jye Caldwell (hamstring) all went down in one whack.

Now, it’s hard to know when the Bombers’ next win will come.

At the weekend, Ben Rutten’s men fielded the youngest and least experienced team in the competition, and even more youth is tipped to come in for the clash against St Kilda on Saturday under the roof.

Slick midfielder Archie Perkins (pick nine) and exciting swingman Zach Reid (pick 10) are elite talents. Pick eight Nik Cox, at 200cm, could become a tall onballer.

That’s the foundation of the future.

Ben Rutten’s job only gets tougher. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

Tough assignments loom next against a much-improved Sydney Swans (SCG), Brisbane Lions (Gabba) and Collingwood (MCG), before they take on non-finalists Carlton (MCG), GWS Giants (Giants’ Stadium) and Fremantle (Marvel Stadium).

It might sound a bit glass-half-empty, but Essendon could be 0-9 coming into the Round 10 clash against North Melbourne when the Bombers shoot for their sixth-straight win over the Kangas.

It will be a big stress test for a club that, at the same time, is trying desperately to convince star midfielder Zach Merrett to stay at Tullamarine in the face of opportunities to join Carlton and Collingwood.

What does the future hold for Zach Merrett? Picture: Getty Images

Merrett is 25 and has played in three finals in his 144 games. His decision won’t be about money, as he will command big dollars whether he stays or goes.

It will be about enjoyment, the environment and the prospects of team success.

But if the Bombers finish bottom two, and get pick three for Merrett under free agency rules, could that actually be the best thing for the club’s rebuild?

Essendon clearly wants Merrett to re-sign and, in any case, the Bombers still need another hard-bodied inside midfielder.

Could GWS bull Tom Green be a Bombers target? Picture: Michael Klein

Tom Green, curiously, was dropped by Greater Western Sydney at the weekend, and would be perfect.

The Giants have a swag of inside midfielders including Jacob Hopper and Tim Taranto at a time when the game is favouring more dynamic ballwinners.

Dunkley remains contracted at the kennel until the end of next season, but the Bombers will keep some bait on the hook in an attempt to land him a second time around in this year’s trade period.

Just don’t expect the Bombers to part with two top-six picks.