Essendon has held discussions with Carlton about a possible trade deal for Jake Carlisle.

The 23 year old told the Bombers this week of his desire to seek a fresh start elsewhere.

“I’ve met with Carlton, haven’t met with St Kilda yet, I’m meeting with them this week,” Essendon List and Recruiting Manager Adrian Dodoro told ABC radio.

“It’s early days at the moment.  Jake hasn’t indicated where he wants to go.

“He’s gone away overseas and he’s having a bit of a think about it.

“Over the next week I’m sure those discussions will start to take shape."

Essendon will consider all trade scenarios but after two years of draft sanctions, it is keen to strengthen its draft position.

“We’re open minded, I think you have to see what pans out but there is no doubt our philosophy this year is to go to the draft,” Dodoro said.

“We’ve missed the last two years of draft sanctions, two years prior to that you had the introduction of two new franchises in the competition.

“So we haven’t had a good crack at the draft and our priority will be to go to the draft, no question.

“We’ve got an early pick this year for the first time in a long time and we’ll be utilising that and if we can get some other picks that would be a bonus.”

Carlton holds the first pick in the pre-season draft and could land Carlisle without having to compensate the Bombers.

But Dodoro is confident that won’t eventuate because of an undertaking from Carlisle’s management team.

“He and his manager, Anthony McConville, have been open and upfront for the last few months,” Dodoro said.

“One thing they did say was that they wouldn’t go through any pre-season drafts and they’d require a fair trade for us, so that gave us confidence in the process.

“You can only take people on their word.

“I think there is a few clubs out there doing their homework on Jake and when he comes back I’m sure he’ll have a few clubs to sit in front of. 

“It’ll come down to what the two clubs are prepared to do.

“He’s a talented player, we hold him in extremely high regard.

“We want fair compensation for him.”