Essendon simply has to acquire another tall forward ahead of the 2023 season, with Josh Jenkins urging the club to get involved in trade discussions.
The Bombers' struggles in 2022 were well noted, with the side’s struggles ahead of the ball of particular concern.
Peter Wright enjoyed his best season yet with 53 majors but was the only Dons forward to boot over 25 goals. Harrison Jones was the next-best tall forward with 13 goals through 10 games.
Kaine Baldwin is the only other player in a similar mould on the club's list but managed just four games in 2022.
With that in mind, Jenkins believes that despite the Bombers missing a senior coach, list manager Adrian Dodoro needs to get on the front foot.
One such candidate is Fremantle’s Rory Lobb, who has expressed his desire to join the Western Bulldogs.
“My query to Adrian and Essendon – and they need to get a coach because players want to speak to the coach – Adrian Dodoro needs to find a tall forward, has to find someone to play alongside Peter Wright,” Jenkins said on AFL Trade Radio’s Trade Mornings.
“Now if there’s not one in the draft, go and pinch one. Can you intervene and get involved in Rory Lobb? Can you sell a story to Rory Lobb?
“(You could say) ‘I know they’re saying great things, but (Josh) Bruce, (Aaron) Naughton, (Sam) Darcy, (Jamarra) Ugle-Hagan, are you sure? Do you want to come and play with Peter Wright? You’ll get the second defender, you’ll dominate them, play for a big club, play on ANZAC Day’.”
Lobb’s manager Colin Young confirmed on Monday his client had been pitched the primary forward role at the Dogs.
Jenkins also floated the possibility of pitching to Lobb’s teammate Griffin Logue or untapped Richmond tall Samson Ryan, but believes Port Adelaide’s Mitch Georgiades would be the pick of the choices.
Georgiades is contracted for next year but after being dropped on numerous occasions in 2022 has been linked to West Coast.
“Or can you go and steal Mitch Georgiades, he’s the one I would be after. He might be going west not east, but this is the point of the trade period, can you pull off a coup?” Jenkins continued.
“I was strong on it (Essendon's struggles) before the season, I didn’t think Essendon stood a chance because they lost so much firepower up forward
“He was dropped twice by Port this season but his talent is undeniable.”
The Dons also reportedly had an interest in Carlton’s Harry McKay, but AFL Media’s Damian Barrett stated on Monday that every indication is the 2021 Coleman Medallist will play with the Blues in 2023.