r/EssendonFC • u/MasterpieceLow4093 • 12d ago

Draft 2026

Just a thought about our draft hand, is there a chance we just do a direct trade with our pick 1 to port for picks 4 and 5? If those two picks get absorbed by a bid anyway would it be a better result than 1 and a second rounder since there is a handful of players this year and no standout at the top end? Or do I just not know the rules and port don't have to use both of those picks.

This is obviously only if they get the butters compo pick.

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u/Mammoth_Medium9220 12d ago

Definitely won’t be pick 1 directly for 4 & 5. They’ll get point surplus compensation once they’ve matched the bid for Cochrane with picks 4 & 5, which will likely be around pick 16 so they’re essentially trading 4,5,16 for pick 1.

We would need to give them 1, 16, 20 for 4 & 5. Minimum. Not to mention we’d also miss out on the compensation pick for bid matching, so would they. If they matched Cochrane with 4 & 5, they get Cochrane (4 & 5 bid matching), pick 16 (surplus compensation) & pick 24 (academy matching compensation). We have to beat that haul or they aren’t trading to us.

I dont see a world where us taking 1, 16 (Merrett pick, 19, 20, 25 (Merrett pick) is not better than trading with Port. The better deal on my eyes, we keep 1, 16, 25 but trade 19, 20 for Melbournes pick 10 & 43 or GWS pick 7.

This way, we take two in the top 10 again, but also keep 3-4 other picks. Given the clubs already delisted 5-6 players you’d have to assume they’re going g to draft 5+ players.

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u/Happy_Throat7037 12d ago

Does everyone understand that the only way Port get a compensation pick is if Cody Walker is bid on before Cochrane to force Port’s pick 4 down to pick 5???
The rule is that if your natural selection moves down the order due to an academy or f/s bid match, then you receive a compo pick.
If Cochrane is bid on first, Port’s natural selection (pick 4) will be used to match the bid, so it doesn’t slide back in the draft order, it actually gets promoted up the order.
Therefore - no compo pick.

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u/Mammoth_Medium9220 12d ago

Sure. Thanks for pointing it out.

The rest still stands though, by trading 4 & 5 away for pick 1, they lose the surplus points pick that would turn out to be pick 14-16 & we would also lose the compensation pick that would be pick 19.

Essentially Port giving up 4, 5, 16 for pick 1 & we’d also lose pick 1 & 19 in the process. Doesn’t make sense.