Matt Rendell is undertaking a series of List Analyses on AFL Trade Radio.
On Monday afternoon, he dug into Essendon’s prospects, after a calamitous end to their season was followed by a handful of players heading for the exits.
“Nothing is as bad as it seems, and nothing is as good as it seems,” Rendell said.
The long-time recruiter believes the Bombers’ prospective midfield acquisitions will prove transformative.
“They are in front of the game, Dodoro is, with (Jye) Caldwell,” Rendell claimed.
“Josh Dunkley as well. They’ve been looking for a big inside mid for ages, and he’s the player.
“Throw those two in the midfield with (skipper Dyson) Heppell, Dylan Shiel, Darcy Parish, Devon Smith, Kyle Langford, Zach Merrett and Andrew McGrath? That’s a pretty damn good midfield, I reckon.”
Rendell identified the Dons' forward line as lacking height.
“They’ve got (James) Stewart, Harrison Jones who is a kid and might play a handful of games tops, and (Jake Stringer) at 191cm, not really a key forward," he said.
Rendell highlighted small and running defenders as another hole in the Dons’ list, with Adam Saad bound for Carlton and Conor McKenna having returned to Ireland.
Veteran pillars Michael Hurley and Cale Hooker are surrounded by medium defenders in Mason Redman, Jordan Ridley and Matt Guelfi.
“I can’t see a player who is going to play on the small forwards for the opposition,” he said.
“Do they need to get Neville Jetta for a year? He can help them out for a year while they try to find someone.”
If they play their cards right, Rendell forecasts a swift bounce for Ben Rutten’s men.
"If they pull off these trades, and they get another good kid in the draft, they could seriously give the eight a nudge again next year.”