Sheedy might trade there first pick

[stan]

ESSENDON coach Kevin Sheedy has revealed he will consider trading the club's first selection in the national draft - either pick one or two - for a lower first-round pick and a highly rated player.

Despite Lance Franklin re-signing with Hawthorn this week, Sheedy is confident he will attract an out-of-contract player and says he will learn from the Magpies - ``the best thieves in the AFL''.

The Bombers have stepped up their recruiting campaign with recruiting manager Adrian Dodoro scrutinising the top prospects in the land as well as contacting as many as 10 potential recruits.

If Essendon finishes on the bottom and is the only team with five wins or fewer it will receive picks 1, 17 and 18 under the new priority rules.

While Sheedy is determined to replenish the club's stocks, he has had a change of heart about his commitment to take the best youngster, widely regarded as South Australian Bryce Gibbs. Now he says the club might get the best of both worlds with an emerging player from a rival club, as well as a young gun from a mid-range first-round pick in what is considered an even draft.

``I was asked the other day, `Would you swap your first-round choice?' and I said no,'' Sheedy said.
``But just imagine if a club offered you a very good player and we swapped draft picks in the first round. It's a very good opportunity. You still get a first-round pick. We might consider that.

``We will consider all of those things depending on what clubs offer us. There are a lot of options. Just imagine if Fremantle or another interstate club said, `We want the No.1 pick for the best kid in Perth and we will give you a Victorian kid who wants to come home. We get your first pick and we will give you pick eight or nine' - a pick somewhere in the middle order.

``We have done the homework and this year's draft will be very even.''

The Bombers will continue to study rival clubs' uncontracted players.

``They are hard to get, but you have got to line them up now,'' Sheedy said. ``I have to learn from Collingwood, and I didn't think I would ever say that, but they are the best thieves in the world - (Nathan) Buckley, (Anthony) Rocca, (Shane) O'Bree, (Blake) Caracella.''

St Kilda president Rod Butterss said yesterday clubs were determined to sign up their younger players early this year to guard against an Essendon raid.

``You would never underestimate Kevin Sheedy,'' Butterss said.

``We want to tie up our best talent before Kevin can get his hands on it. That is just protecting your business. He has been around a long time and has more tricks than the rest of us put together.''

But Collingwood chief executive Greg Swann said Essendon might find out how hard it has become to extract players from clubs.

``I think now that he has kept saying he is going to do that, he will be shocked that there aren't many left. It's very difficult to get blokes to move, but good luck to him,'' he said.

Essendon CEO Peter Jackson has declared Sheedy's job safe until at least the end of next year, Jackie Epstein reports.

Jackson said another bottom-four finish in 2007 would prompt a review, but Sheedy was under no pressure despite the Bombers heading for the wooden spoon.

``Kevin's been fantastic for the Essendon footy club,'' Jackson said on 3AW. ``Why should he be (reviewed)? He has a track record over a long time of being successful and he's got a contract and the club will honour the contract.

``Having said all that, he's contracted in 2007 and we've won nine out of 36 in the last year and a half. We need to improve that win/loss ratio. We need to do better than being in the bottom four next year.

``If we're in the bottom four next year, that'll be three years in a row we're in the bottom four. That might change our thinking, but at this point it's not under consideration.''

[stan]

So Adelaide might have a chance to get bryce gibbs. Of course for a price.

[Magpiespower]

Sheeds can't be serious?

Maybe it is time for him to go.

[stan]

Sheeds can't be serious?

Maybe it is time for him to go.

I dont think he is. I mean considering the talent in this years draft. What I think is that hes doing a typical sheedy. Smoke and daggers. What he is doing is deflecting talk about there losing streak. The worst for many years if im not mistaken.

[Dog_ger]

Sheeds should trade Garry Ayres...?

[sydney-dog]

it's about time sheedy traded himself

[Blue Boy]

Just another great diversion by the old fella - well done Sheeds !!!!

[JK]

Probably only doing it on the off chance that a deal "too good to refuse" came along ... Or there was a homesick Victorian star likely to be coming off contract interstate ... Would have to have made rumblings like this to sow a seed, and I wouldn't expect him to give the pick away for a steal, so probably not a bad move to come out with these comments!

[ORDoubleBlues]

For my two cents, I'd say that it would take a package of Chris Knights, Brent Reilly/Ivan Maric/Trent Hentschel and the Crows first round pick to go to Essendon to be able to prize away the No.1 pick, which IMHO, is too much from a Crow viewpoint but you could understand Essendon asking as the ball's in their court.