For the first time in almost a decade Essendon will be able to take aim at the pre-season draft. With no trade deals done today and some salary cap relief coming via recent retirements, Essendon will be able to participate in the draft that threw up names such as Jade Rawlings, Nick Stevens, Phillip Read and Josh Mahoney last year. It remains to be seen who is available in the 2005 version.

""We were unable to swing the right deal during the week and simply weren’t prepared to trade the players some clubs wanted without being adequately compensated,"" Essendon chief executive Peter Jackson said. ""And you don’t fall into the trap of trading for the sake of it. We think we have a young list with plenty of talent capable of playing finals’ football next season.""

""It will be interesting to see which players become available in the pre-season draft because we will get involved for the first time in quite a few years. Some very good players come via that draft and I think we will be able to add some quality to our list.""

Essendon last took part in a pre-season draft in 1997.