The peculiar scenario for No.1 Bombers pick

Amid all the drama at Essendon right now, the Mid-Season Rookie Draft took place on Tuesday night.

The Bombers took Jaxon Artemis with Pick 1 on the same day the club sacked Brad Scott as senior coach.

South Fremantle product Artemis had returned to his hometown of Perth after playing six VFL games for the Devils, having moved to Tasmania around six months ago.

After Artemis had his name called out by the Dons, does he bother flying to Melbourne this week?

The Bombers meet West Coast at Optus Stadium this Sunday night. Could he simply stay at home and meet his new teammates and caretaker coach Dean Solomon when they arrive in Perth, presumably on Friday?

However, the likelihood that Artemis debuts in the AFL this weekend would not be very high given he hasn't played since May 9.

The rebounding defender sat out Tassie’s Round 8 loss to Southport before the Devils had the bye last weekend.

Even after losing captain Andrew McGrath (broken jaw), Sam Durham (concussion), and Matt Guelfi (hamstring), and with other fresh injuries to Archie May (ribs) and Jye Caldwell (ankle), the Dons would be loathe to play him sight unseen.

The more likely scenario is that Artemis will travel to Melbourne during the week and get set up in his new digs. Then he could perhaps play on Sunday in the VFL against Werribee, who just so happen to be the team he last played against while with Tassie.

He told AFL Media's Riley Beveridge and Cal Twomey last night that he was not yet sure of the plans.

It certainly presents as a peculiar and interesting situation which we will learn more about during the week.

Dons or Tigers?

Artemis was asked about the possibility of going at No.1 last week before Essendon lost to Richmond which saw them drop to bottom and subsequently take the first pick.

He said he was fairly confident he’ll be selected this Tuesday night, regardless of what happened at the MCG last Friday night.

“There might be a little bit of interest in the game tonight from me but whatever happens happens I guess,” Artemis said on SEN WA Breakfast last week.

“I’ve had a bit of an inkling if I’m going to go or not.

“I’ve got a bit of knowledge on next week, I’m pretty confident that I’ll go, hopefully.”

Asked who he was siding with, Artemis said: “I don’t mind to be honest, I could not care less.

“Just to get on an AFL list would be unreal. I’m supporting no one tonight. I’ll be at the Freo game so I’ll be supporting them!”

Tassie dream

Artemis, who has spoken to four AFL clubs, explained how his initial move to the Devils came about, initiated by their legendary list boss Derek Hine.

He says the dream, or “golden ticket” idea, was to work his way into AFL calculations with the fledgling club ahead of their AFL inception in 2028.

“Derek contacted my manager and just asked if we wanted to have a conversation,” he said.

“I had a phone call with him and he said you don’t have to do anything but we’ll put you on a meeting with Todd Patterson, the list manager from Tassie, and the coach (Jeromey Webberley).

“They sold the club to me and what role I’d be playing, job-wise and housing-wise, they’d all sort that stuff.

“The big reason for the move was the golden ticket opportunity when Tassie come in.”

He’s only been with the Devils for the past six months, but departing fills him with sadness as his chance to become a foundation AFL player in Tassie now appears less likely than it might have been.

Artemis packed up and moved back to Perth to sort himself for a potential shift to Melbourne. He would rather take the opportunity now and strike while the iron’s hot as opposed to waiting for the Devils to hit the AFL.

“I was saying to all the boys that I’m actually quite sad that I’m getting the chance to go on an AFL list, which no one is ever saying,” he added.

“It’s just the way the club has taken me in and gotten around me, they’ve done so well for me, it genuinely feels like a family.

“It’s a bittersweet feeling but I can’t complain as I’m going on an AFL list potentially.”

He admits that Hine and Patterson urged him to think about staying with Tassie ahead of their 2028 AFL entry, but he couldn’t knock back the chance to gain AFL experience now.

“They did reach out to me and try to persuade me not to nominate,” Artemis said further.

“They did really well. I was genuinely really close to not nominating but I couldn’t not take up 18 months of development in the AFL system.

“If they were in next year I potentially wouldn’t have nominated but that 18 months is pretty crucial I reckon.”

Artemis says Devils captain Robbie Fox has taken him under his wing, and likened him to Sydney Swans star Nick Blakey who is one of the league's premier rebounding backmen.