Essendon is building under Ben Rutten and while they are by no means where they want to be yet, have many promising players within their ranks as of current.
We continue our ‘Five trade targets for every club’ series with Essendon. The idea of these stories is to identify potentially gettable targets who could fill roles, not just link every club to the likes of Marcus Bontempelli and Patrick Cripps.
FIVE TRADE TARGETS FOR: Adelaide Crows, Brisbane Lions, Carlton, Collingwood
In no particular order, here are five players which the Bombers recruitment team would do well to target and potentially poach.
Cerra is a name that will be tossed around profusely during trade period 2021, but for good reason. The prodigious mid is thriving in a Dockers team brimming with talent, and is off-contract at the end of this year. It has been reported in recent times that he could be lured back to Victoria, with Carlton reportedly tabling a huge bid for the 21-year-old.
However, the Blues aren't the only side that could use Cerra, with Essendon potentially preparing for life after Zach Merrett following intense interest from other clubs. On top of this, they also by all accounts have the money to throw at a big name this trade period and have already been linked with the Dockers midfielder. He would slot in fantastically with the likes of Parish and more importantly Merrett should he stay, elevating the Bombers midfield to a new level.
Midfielder
Disposals
Tackles
Clearances
Dunkley is the one that got away for the Bombers in last season's trade period. And despite some murmurs they might go for another swoop this year, the midfielder has come out and stated he is settled at the Doggies following his failed departure. However, money talks, and if Essendon come back with a huge offer for the midfield star, then perhaps he could be tempted into a switch.
Prior to his injury this season, Dunkley was in All-Australian form along with the bulk of his midfield partners. The 24-year-old was putting up insane averages all across the board, averaging 30.3 disposals per match, 12.3 contested possessions per match as well as 5.2 total clearances per game. It is safe to say if the Bombers get their man, he will bring spades of quality to their midfield and take them closer to the promised land.
Billings has been linked with a move away from the Saints, specifically to North Melbourne off the back of sizeable space in their salary cap. However, Essendon would be wise to go in for the 25-year-old given his talent and impact he can have. The midfielder is averaging some pretty tidy numbers for a man of his position, with eight goals to his name so far in season 2021 in nine appearances.
Billings is also averaging superb numbers in disposals per game (22.4), intercept possessions (3.8) and marks (7.6). With this, the Bombers would do well to snag him from under the noses of one of their rivals, and it would be a big statement of intent for the club should they pull it off.
Midfielder
Disposals
Tackles
Clearances
Probably the hottest property on the market come trade period 2021, Harry McKay will have no shortage of suitors at the end of the year. Leading the Coleman race in 2021 with a total of 33 majors in nine appearances, McKay will be due a mammoth pay packet wherever he goes. It's most likely that the 23-year-old will stay in Victoria, and last year it was alleged that the Bombers enquired about the availability of the big forward.
With the Blues having a fair amount of salary to splash, they might just be able to keep ahold of McKay, but so too do the Bombers. A staggering offer will have to be tabled to lure him to The Hanger, but the truth is resurgent forward Cale Hooker will not be around for a great deal longer, and a replacement will have to be found for him sooner or later.
Should the Bombers not pursue/fail to capture Harry McKay, then a less prominent, younger target could be the go for Ben Rutten. Richmond's Callum Coleman-Jones has been tearing it up in the Tiger's VFL side, and has been looking lethal since the end of his 10-game ban following the infamous 'kebab shop incident' on the Gold Coast last year.
His primary position is as a ruck, standing at a lofty 200cm tall, but can play forward effectively too, as shown when he booted five goals against the GWS VFL side on Sunday. It has been reported that he is the subject of interest from rival clubs, but the 21-year-old hasn't made any noise about wanting to leave Tigerland. This would ultimately be one for the future, however he will undoubtedly bring some more height to the team, something that the Bombers are in need of.
Â