Veteran recruiter Matt Rendell believes Essendon will attempt to work their way up the draft order in a bid to land a quality key forward this year.
The Bombers look like they will lose Joe Daniher, who has requested a move to Brisbane, Adam Saad, who has nominated Carlton, and Orazio Fantasia, who is being linked with a return to South Australia.
The former Collingwood recruiter feels the likely compensation the club will receive, at least for Daniher and Saad, will put them in a strong position to go hard at the draft.
Rendell says Dons list manager Adrian Dodoro will be able to hold a strong draft hand where they may go after promising West Australian tall forward Logan McDonald.
“You would assume they get a first-round compensation for Daniher. I couldn’t see how you couldn’t,” Rendell said on SEN’s Dwayne’s World.
“You would think (pick) seven would have to be in that for Saad, and they’ll probably have to give back a second or third-round next year.
“So they could end up with six, seven or eight.”
Rendell says there could be some business done with the Adelaide Crows who hold pick one and are likely to select local young gun Riley Thilthorpe.
“The interesting thing is the Crows have pick one and they’re probably going to take Riley Thilthorpe who is a local player, 200-centimetre forward/ruck,” he added.
“The big challenger to Riley Thilthorpe is Logan McDonald out of Perth. He had a super year. He finished second in the goal kicking in the league which is a super effort.
“He’s apparently improved out of sight.
“Adelaide will be tossing up but it will be hard to get away from taking a 200-centimetre ruckman-cum-forward who is based in Adelaide.
“I’m hearing a bit of noise that Essendon could package up a couple of those picks to give Adelaide, if they get compensation for (Brad) Crouch, for pick 2.
“And if that’s the case they’ll be looking at taking McDonald, I would have thought, to replace Daniher.
“If I was the Crows I’d do that deal if that comes to fruition.
“I would certainly look at it from an Essendon point of view to take it so they can get that key forward, but also so they keep one of their picks, seven or eight, whichever it is.
“Sounds like a win-win to me all round.”
Dwayne Russell asked: “So you reckon Adrian Dodoro is on a winner here if he goes to the draft, gets Logan McDonald - a key forward - but also gets a couple of other kids in the first round or at least three in the first 20?”
To which Rendell replied: “I don’t think there’s all doom and gloom at Essendon.
“I think Essendon can come out of this pretty good. Especially if they end up with six, seven, eight - that’s a big hand in this draft.
“They could dictate a lot of stuff that could happen. I think they might come out of it ok to tell you the truth.”