Essendon List and Recruiting Manager Adrian Dodoro says adding further talent to the Club’s burgeoning crop of young players has formed the backbone of its recruiting strategy.
Adam Saad became the latest player to sign with the Dons when Gold Coast agreed to swap the rebounding defender in exchange for a future second round pick.
His acquisition follows that of Devon Smith and the Bombers could add Western Bulldog Jake Stringer before Thursday’s trade deadline.
Saad and Smith join the Club’s impressive young talent that already includes Crichton Medal winners and All Australians Joe Daniher and Zach Merrett, Rising Star Andrew McGrath, Darcy Parish and Orazio Fantasia.
“We want to identify three players (Smith, Saad and Stringer) that can come along for the next eight to ten years with the current batch of young players that we’ve got,” Dodoro said.
“Although it’s unusual for the Essendon Football Club to trade its first pick, it was done strategically to give us the impetus to put a team on the park next year that we feel can make finals.
“That has been our strategy all along.”
Saad joins the Bombers after three seasons with the Suns.
He made his debut in 2015 and went on to play 48 games with the Club, including every match this season.
“I think we’ve got a really exciting player, he’s a local who came through the Calder Cannons – he slipped through our hands to be honest,” Dodoro said.
“He got on a rookie list and he exceeded everyone’s expectations.
“Gold Coast did a great job in developing him and this is one that we’re really fortunate to get back our way.
“He has the traits to be an elite rebounding defender and I think we’ve got ourselves a really good player.”
Dodoro said the addition of Saad will add to the Club’s rebound off half back and could help free up McGrath to play further up the field.
“We wanted to find another rebounding half back so we could release Andrew McGrath into our midfield," he said.
“Conor McKenna really developed last year so we’ve got two real bullets off our half back line which will be really exciting.
“We’ve still got some strong hopes that Ben McNiece will develop into a very good player as well so I think down back we’ve got some really good options.”
The Bombers are hopeful they will be able to land their third trade target, Stringer, by Thursday’s deadline.
“We’re in ongoing discussions with the Western Bulldogs, they know where we sit,” Dodoro said.
“He is a contracted player and the ball is in their court to see what they want to do there.
“We’re optimistic that we can get something done there.”
