Essendon looking for midfielder in trade market, but it won’t be Rory Sloane
JON RALPH, Herald Sun
an hour ago
ESSENDON will continue to be aggressive in the trade market as it searches for more established midfield depth.
But Rory Sloane’s age — he turns 29 next March — will count the Bombers out of a tilt for the Adelaide free agent.
Essendon will continue to cheer for the Giants’ downfall because its second-round draft pick is linked to Greater Western Sydney after last year’s Devon Smith trade.
The Bombers handed their 2018 second-round selection to the Suns for Adam Saad, but in an exchange of picks for Smith also swapped their 2018 third selection for the Giants’ 2018 second selection.
The GWS pick currently sits at No. 24, when the Bombers would have expected another top-four finish for the Giants.
The Bombers still have ample cap space despite last year’s acquisitions of Smith, Saad and former Western Bulldog Jake Stringer.
Essendon believes it paid fair prices when it re-signed the likes of Cale Hooker and Michael Hurley as they sat out a year of football for their supplements bans.
It has also cleared salary cap space with the departures of established players Patrick Ryder, Jake Carlisle, Jake Melksham and Michael Hibberd.
Essendon’s frenetic tackle pressure has helped put it back in finals contention but another onball bull would round out a list with few other weaknesses.
Jake Stringer shows off some new artwork at Essendon training on Wednesday.