Melbourne completes deal for Essendon defender Michael Hibberd

MELBOURNE has continued its excellent trade period after landing Essendon defender Michael Hibberd a day after pulling off a sensational move for Jordan Lewis.

MELBOURNE has continued its excellent trade period after landing Essendon defender Michael Hibberd.

The Demons eventually relented and handed the Bombers their No.29 pick.

They also swapped pick 68 for Essendon’s pick 59.

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Essendon and Melbourne had been haggling over what Essendon will get in return for the rebounding half-back.

The Demons initially wanted to give a future second-round pick, but the Herald Sun confirmed this morning they were open to exchanging a second-round pick from next month’s draft.

The deal comes a day after the Dees pulled off a sensation move for Hawthorn premiership star Jordan Lewis.

Melbourne has traded its second-round pick for Michael Hibberd. Picture: Michael Klein

Hibberd played 84 games in six seasons at Essendon but was suspended for the entire 2016 season because of the club’s drugs saga.

Football manager Josh Mahoney said the Demons were delighted to secure Hibberd

“Michael was targeted throughout the year as a player who would add experience to our young defence,” Mahoney told the club’s website.

“Michael is a competitor who attacks the ball strongly both in the air and on the ground and who’s kicking will help us with our overall ball movement.

“Any deal involving a player during the trade period is stressful for the player involved, particularly in this situation with Michael.

“We are happy that we’ve been able to agree on a trade and Michael can now look forward knowing he is a Melbourne Football Club player.”

The Bombers are satisfied to receive pick 29 from Melbourne after last year nabbing pick 25 for Jake Melksham.

Hibberd’s manager Paul Connors this morning said the deal was on the brink of being completed.

“I think that will get done soon,” Connors said on RSN radio.

“Essendon has been wonderful in their dealings from chief executive Xavier Campbell down. I think they’ve been keen to get this going and I’ve respected their position of really wanting a pick in this year’s draft.

“There’s a lot of goodwill between Melbourne and Essendon and I’d be surprised if that’s not done very, very soon.”