The sanctions imposed on the Bombers in recent seasons make this draft ‘hugely important’ for the Club according to AFL Draft expert Callum Twomey.

For the first time since the 2012 National Draft Essendon will have a full complement of selections.  And what a hand they have at their disposal.

The Bombers have four picks inside the first two rounds and their later selections could improve as northern state clubs bid on their Academy players.

 “I think this year’s draft is hugely important for the Bombers,” Twomey said. 

“Obviously the last two years having lost selections as part of the penalties from the AFL, they’ve had to find other ways to build their list.

“To nail some of these early selections puts the Bombers in a really strong position and offsets some of the damage that has been done over the last couple of years.”

There has been much debate about the overall quality of this season’s talent pool.

Twomey has followed draft candidates across the country as they tried to impress recruiters.

He said the first round is strong, but clubs will need to do their homework to strike gold in the later rounds.

“It’s good at the top end but then I think it drops away after pick 30,” Twomey said.

“But there will be some players, like there are every year, who impress beyond that point.

“Adrian Dodoro has spoken about picking the eyes out of the draft later on and that’s what the Bombers have been able to do in the last couple of years.

“Marty Gleeson – a pick in the 50’s who has come on and played most of this season with the Bombers in the senior side.  (Orazio) Fantasia in the 50’s as well, Nick Kommer is another one who has come on as a later selection.

“The Bombers can find a player later in the draft and they’ve shown that over the last couple of years.  That’s what they’ll be trying to do this year.”