‘They’ve gone bang!’ Bombers ‘big winners’ as trio arrive, prized pick remains

Essendon are looming as one of the “big trade winners” after securing three players – and still managing to hold onto their prized pick 9 in the upcoming Draft.

The Bombers on Friday secured Jade Gresham as a restricted free agent when St Kilda opted not to match the bid – instead getting pick 21 (currently) as compensation.

That follows deals for Ben McKay and Todd Goldstein that didn’t require a trade, with the possible addition of Port’s Xavier Duursma still on the cards for next week’s final days of Trade Period.

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“I like what Essendon have done – I think they’ve done it really well,” Leigh Montagna said on Fox Footy’s Trading Day.

“Brad Scott has preached patience … but now they’ve gone bang and gone and got so far three, might be four players.

“To try and top up where they are at.

“They should be challenging for the eight.”

Fellow panellist Nick Dal Santo agreed the Bombers should be eyeing finals in 2024.

“Is this list, if its plays somewhere near their potential, better than we saw with last year’s team? Absolutely,” he said.

“They should be somewhere around the eight.”

Montagna believes McKay’s inclusion at the Bombers will play a crucial role in their finals hopes – comparing the backman to Lions’ star Harris Andrews.

Statistics show McKay averaged +7.5% 1 v 1 win rate to Andrews and +1 intercept per game, while only sitting 0.1% behind in intercept possessions the past two years.

“(McKay) has taken the most intercept marks the past two years per game,” Montagna said.

“I’m surprised at some of the commentary about Ben McKay’s football.

“The suggestion he’s only played a handful of good games or he’s not a top liner is way off the mark.

“I think we’ve seen that his best is very, very good.

“His numbers stack up as well as anyone.

“You’ve got to remember he’s played in a team who is seeing more ball come into their backline without a real defensive system than any other side. I think going to a team that will have a better defensive set up, he’ll have better defenders around him. I think we’ll see the very best of this guy.

“For me, Essendon have been the big winners so far out of this trade period.”

Dal Santo said he also rated the recruitment of Gresham.

“I think he has more upside … he’s got the match-winning ability,” he praised.

“He has been St Kilda’s version of (Jordan) De Goey, (Christian) Petracca or Dusty (Martin) – he’s clearly not at that level. He does have traits of some of those guys.”

Statistics show Gresham is one of only five current players to average 18+ disposals and a goal for their career – joining Martin, Patrick Dangerfield, Toby Greene and De Goey.

“Maybe he’s not the best runner in the competition, maybe his kicking is a little bit tardy – what he is is a player that has got some qualities that are up there with the very best players of the comp,” Montagna said.

“We’re clearly not saying he sits in that mould yet … but he’s got that talent in him.”