Adrian Dodoro continues to lead Bombers’ contract talks in midst of succession plan
Despite the succession plan in place at the Bombers, veteran footy boss Adrian Dodoro appears to still be running the show before former Eagle Matt Rosa takes over at Essendon.
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Essendon list manager Adrian Dodoro is continuing to lead the Bombers’ contract dealings while he helps groom rookie talent manager Matt Rosa to eventually take over.
The Bombers last year announced a succession plan confirming Rosa would take the reins from Dodoro, who would take a “step back” after 26 years at Tullamarine.
But Dodoro is still in charge of the Bombers’ contract talks after successful negotiations with powerful player manager Nick Gieschen, from Connors Sports, on deals for Jordan Ridley and Kyle Langford last month.
There was speculation Dodoro would depart the club immediately after last year’s bumper trade period, but the veteran talent boss remains at the helm as Rosa learns the AFL list management ropes.
Rosa, who played 207 games at West Coast and Gold Coast and worked in the WAFL last year, is expected to meet with more prominent player managers soon as part of his step up.
The extensions for Langford and Ridley were designed to front-end their contracts to help create more room for continued free agency moves in coming years as the Bombers’ list peaks.
Essendon coach Brad Scott has made clear he wants to continue to attack the free agency market which would allow the Bombers to bring in top mature-age talent plus keep their early draft picks.
The Bombers have been linked to North Melbourne free agent Cameron Zurhaar and have room in their salary cap even after landing four players from rivals clubs in last year’s trade period.
The cap space allowed Essendon bring money forward to negotiate improved deals for Ridley and Langford.
The Bombers and West Coast are the only two clubs who have opted against passing on automatic pay rises to their players as the salary cap grows under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Essendon and West Coast believe they will be armed with free-agency war chests when the salary cap grows by almost $3 million in the next two years after opting against passing those pay rises on to their players.
The uplift in 2024 is 5.1 per cent, while the rise in 2025 will be a further 12.6 per cent.
That room should also help Essendon find extra money to complete its next round of deals for free agent Andrew McGrath and fast-rising playmaker Archie Perkins.
Perkins is set for a major pay rise after a sparkling performance in Round 1 where he gathered 24 touches, two goals, nine score involvements and laid 12 tackles.
McGrath, who also had a team-high 33 disposals, and Perkins are two of the Bombers’ best players and are eyeing boosted pay-packets on their contracts, which could earn Perkins more than $650,000 a year if he maintains top form this season.
The pay rise could almost double Perkins’ current wage, with Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd labelling the midfield-forward the club’s “next superstar” in the making.
But the coaching staff face a challenge trying to accommodate all of Essendon’s prime midfielders in the same engine room with Darcy Parish on the comeback from a hamstring strain.
Ben Hobbs (shoulder) and Dylan Shiel (foot/ankle) are also making their way back from injuries through the VFL.
Perkins has played the bulk of his career on a forward flank, but is eager to bed down a permanent spot in the on-ball unit to help lead the Bombers’ climb up the ladder.
The 21-year-old has found switching roles challenging because as a forward he is to instructed to run away from the ball and as a midfielder he is told to run to the footy.
Defender Jayden Laverde is also in-line for a recall on Saturday night to replace Zach Reid, who is facing another stint on the sidelines to recover from a hamstring strain suffered against Hawthorn on Saturday.
Essendon booted 10 goals from stoppage in the win over Hawthorn but will take on the most in form midfield group in the game when the Bombers confront Sydney Swans at the SCG on Saturday night.
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