Essendon looking for midfielder in trade market, but it won’t be Rory Sloane

AFTER its success landing Jake Stringer, Devon Smith and Adam Saad in last year’s trade period, Essendon is set to go back to the well. But one big name has been crossed off already.

Jake Stringer of the Bombers.

ESSENDON will continue to be aggressive in the trade market as it searches for more established midfield depth.

But Rory Sloane’s age — he turns 29 next March — will count the Bombers out of a tilt for the Adelaide free agent.

Essendon will continue to cheer for the Giants’ downfall because its second-round draft pick is linked to Greater Western Sydney after last year’s Devon Smith trade.

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The Bombers handed their 2018 second-round selection to the Suns for Adam Saad, but in an exchange of picks for Smith also swapped their 2018 third selection for the Giants’ 2018 second selection.

The GWS pick currently sits at No. 24, when the Bombers would have expected another top-four finish for the Giants.

The Bombers still have ample cap space despite last year’s acquisitions of Smith, Saad and former Western Bulldog Jake Stringer.

Essendon believes it paid fair prices when it re-signed the likes of Cale Hooker and Michael Hurley as they sat out a year of football for their supplements bans.

Jake Stringer shows off some new artwork at Essendon training on Wednesday.

It has also cleared salary cap space with the departures of established players Patrick Ryder, Jake Carlisle, Jake Melksham and Michael Hibberd.

Essendon’s frenetic tackle pressure has helped put it back in finals contention but another onball bull would round out a list with few other weaknesses.

Meanwhile, Brisbane’s quick fix era is over, with the Lions happy to again go back to the draft rather than launch more recruiting raids this year.

Lions chief executive Greg Swann says Brisbane has no plans to trade early picks, adamant the club’s list build is on track.

Mitch Robinson will be handed a new contract after continued excellent form, with Allen Christensen also saving his career.

Brisbane paid a considerable sum for Adelaide’s Charlie Cameron last year, and in past seasons has topped up with senior players with mixed levels of success.

Allen Christensen has earned another contact.

But emboldened by its play this year, it will continue to stockpile talent with picks that currently stand at No. 2, 20 and 38.

“At this stage we are going back to the draft. We want to keep adding to the list and just keep bringing them through, so that’s what we will be doing,” Swann said.

All of the Lions’ elite youngsters are locked away — Eric Hipwood, Jarrod Berry and Alex Witherden until 2020 and Harris Andrews, Hugh McCluggage and Cam Rayner until 2002.

Christensen had played only 11 games in the past two years because of continuing shoulder injuries that at one stage looked likely to curtail his promising career.

He has played every game this year and, barring serious injury, the 27-year-old will secure another deal.

Robinson continues to be a combustible but effective midfielder, with his only absence this year due to suspension for hitting St Kilda’s Seb Ross.

He turns 29 next week and while he would like a two-season contract there is a feeling offering him one-year deals keeps him on edge.