Essendon's List and Recruiting Manager Adrian Dodoro spoke to NAB AFL Trade Radio on Monday about the prospect of the Bombers landing Bulldog Jake Stringer.
The Dons have already netted two players (Devon Smith and Adam Saad) this trade period and are hoping Stringer will be their third.
Adrian Dodoro on the Jake Stringer deal:
“I think they're (Western Bulldogs) doing a little bit of work in the background to see what they can do with some picks at the moment.
"I wouldn't say they've shut the door on that at all.
"We can only deal with what we've got.
"(Picks) 25 and 30 are good picks, two top 30 picks in any draft is a terrific outcome for any player.
"We did put an offer to the Bulldogs that had pick 11 in it and they declined that.
"(GWS list boss) Craig (Cameron) was smart enough to jump on that (for Smith).
"It's given us Devon Smith straight away and will also help us possibly today to get Adam Saad done, so that will be two done with that pick.
"Hopefully that deal also helps us get Jake Stringer in the door this week.
"The common theme is he's a contracted player.
"We've done our homework, we've done our due diligence and we think he'll be a pretty good fit for us and we'd like to bring him into the club.
"But by the same token there is a price to pay and there is a price you don't want to pay and in this case we were under the impression there was a player leaving that was leaving his football club so in good faith we're talking to the Bulldogs this week and hopefully we get a deal done."
Manager Paul Connors on the Jake Stringer situation:
"They don't want him, so why would they want to keep him?
"You've got to be careful, because when he's contracted it's harder, there's less options.
"He's going overseas today, if he doesn't get traded by Thursday he might stay there if he's having a great time.
"Given we didn't initiate this – and they can say it was a mutual decision to explore options, I'd like to challenge that because Jake wanted to stay – now they've said they want him to go, it's time to go.
"If they don't trade him, he'll go very cheaply the following year, you would think."
John Worsfold on the signing of Adam Saad:
“He’s a rebounding small defender who can also defend a man tightly and beat his opponent one on one – that’s really why we’ve got him here, we know what his attributes are.
“We also believe he is a great fit for what we’re building as a Club, both in his age and his character and values as well.”
Adrian Dodoro on the signing of Adam Saad:
“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.
“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.”
