The emergence of Paddy Ryder this season and news that Jason Laycock is recovering well from injury raises the interesting question of who will be the No.1 ruckman in 2010?

 

Will Ryder be the man or can David Hille bounce back from a knee injury. Maybe you think the talented Laycock is finally ready to hit his straps.

 

 

Last we we asked if St Kilda's pick No.16 for Andrew Lovett was a good trade and 58.95% said 'no', 30.81% voted 'yes' and 10.24% picked 'only time will tell'.

 

Here is what some of the fans had to say:

 

 

Leigh from Caroline Springs says: Upon hearing of this trade deal I thought it was terrible! I was expecting to hear that we picked up Luke Ball or Matt Maguire. But who knows who you could end up with with any pick these days! Cyril Rioli was not a top pick was he. Hopefully we get a consistent much needed player in our side for Lovett but... Only time will tell!

 

Neil Poyner from Wirrulla, South Australia says: What a waste. It is no good having a team of ""gunners"". We need a team with some senior players to mentor and be able to run the game out, having a fitness foundation built over a number of years. We needed Burgoyne for Lovett and Jolley to assist with our Rucks that have been under stocked for some years. With the likes of Bellchambers, he may well be a champion, but he needs some help to get there. You cannot just throw him to the wolves and break his spirit and destroy his confidence. There has to be some reason and good sense displayed if we are to progress to a Premiership. I am gutted.

 

Jake M from Vic says: Wish we could have had a better trade, as I think Lovett is worth more. We better either get a great young player out of this, or trade the pick for a player currently in the comp. If we don't get either, I won't be happy!

 

David Meredith from says: A straight swap for Ball would have been a better outcome, both players wanted new clubs. Ball would slot into the midfield as an established player which I feel the club needs. It is disturbing that no players ever nominate EFC as the club of choice any more. Interesting to read though that Andrew accepted less to stay in Victoria than what other clubs had offered him.

 

Baxter from Keysborough, Victoria says: Terrible trade from staff who wasted the only bait we had.

 

Delano from Vic says: Why would we trade Lovett to Saint Kilda for pick 16 when we could have done soo much better!!! Melbourne got pick 11 for Brock Mclean and Lovett is better than Mclean so we should have got at least a pick 7. We could have swapped him for Luke Ball also? Iam a soo dissapointed with Essendon!

 

John from Carnegie says: Sets us back 4 years in a key component of our fragile game plan- run and carry. We start again for Lovett's place with the 16th best 17/18 yo. Poor, poor, poor by the football department. There is no doubt he became a lost cause, because he didn't get sufficient special attention that he craved. And deserved through his unquestioned game breaking skills when he was on song. We needed a ready-made to replace him, or have been traded to North/Sydney/Eagles for their 4/5/6 pick to get in amongst the cream of the draft crop.

 

Martin Go from Beaconsfield Vic says: Congratulations EFC for obtaining pick 16. It is the best of the three options as the proposed deals with Brisbane and Port Adelaide came up short. Would still like to see the Dons pick up Marcus Drum. Cheers

 

Daniel Ellul from Tas says: We appear to have missed opportunities to bolster our experience blend of players with Lucas, Lloyd gone after Hird we are looking at approxiamately 2000 goals now Lovett has left another goal contributor are stocks are dangeriously rock bottom. The young fellows show potential but have also shown their mindset is not condusive to kicking sufficient goals to make us competetive and even further from finals contention. Football is about now and we have some talented youngsters however at this stage they fall a long way short of the champions that have retired two of which left on questionable grounds. Chase some experience to balance with our up and comers and our maybe brigade.please

 

Luke from Macleod says: Thank goodness we are not making the mistakes of the past and getting some other teams old unwanted players. That what we do to Freo and look where they are. Stay the course Knights and dont take anyone over 25. What good is it getting someone who will be retired befor we are realy ready for a Premiership bid. No Fev, No Hall. Lets just consentrate on finding a decent young forward and getting injured players like Gumbleton on the field for more than 5 minutes. Not his foult but still frustrating. Keep it young. Go Dons.

 

Foffy from Sandhurst says: We should have used Lovett as trade bait for Ball or Burgoyne who we could use in our midfield and really help out the young guns. Now we have one of the youngest AFL list, meaning one of the most inexperienced. I think we may have set our selves back a bit

 

Greg from Tas says: IF he was not happy, then this better than letting him go for nothing.

 

Jesse from Melbourne says: What were Essendon thinking when they made this trade. Completely stupid. I know we are aiming for youth but come on go past Ball or Magiure. Just stupid

 

Matt McPherson from Victoria says: Time will tell if it is a good trade. Realistically we are not looking at a premiership next year but the year after that may be interesting and the year after that, which is when this years draft will be bearing fruit will be even more so. I am starting to see Matthew Knights' and the recruiting staff's vision and I am liking it.

 

Georgia Milonas from Vic says: Thought it was a really weak trade from our part. A few later trade picks may have been swapped as a sweetner. I know the club was held to ransom by Lovett wanting to leave but I thought Knights showed his inexperience in that trade.

 

David Grant from Mt Lawley wa says: We don't have a good record when it comes to draft success and we have traded a proven if erractic, player. Better we should have bartered for Ball or Macquire, to balance our commitment to youth.

 

Rod from Melb says: Disgraceful. He will tear us apart everytime we play St. Kilda. We needed to get a player as well in the trade. Our inability to trade over the years leaves me stunned as does the re appointment of Knights for a further contract. The player discontent is obvious.

 

Tonche from Melbourne says: Weren't going to get anything from him anyway - may as well make a pretty fair deal and enhance our reputation as a club that won't be pushed around but who will make a deal where it suits.

 

Stuey from Point Cook says: Great trade, for a player off the rookie list we've got a 1st round draft pick and basically on 1 good year. No way would we have got that last year.

 

Greg from Vic says: Seems a little light. Would have liked to get St Kilda's 3rd round selection as well. I hope we pick wise in the draft and make that trade come off.

 

Greg from SA says: Just seems too hasty to trade for a draft pick on day two of trade week. It would leave a better taste in mouth if it occurred at the end of trade week when it was obvious no other deal would be forthcoming.

 

Dan Mac from Adelaide says: Leaving him in the team could potentially prove toxic to the team dynamic. Better to move him on and focus on developmental practises within the EFC.

 

Paul Rogers from Pascoe Vale vic says: Why doesn't any body listen to members we pay good money each year we can say anything we want but no one listens anyway. It doesn't matter who we get or lose just keep takeing our money. For pick 16 well I would like David w from Geelong better than Port rejects. I just hope we keep all our members for 2010 essendon only has it self to blame if not.

 

Shannon from Adelaide says: Lovett has 4 years left, draft pick 16 is a unknown, could go either way, in the end it is our second best pick and we could have been left with nothing!

 

Graham Edgar from Berwick, Vic says: There has been a great deal of contention amongst our supporters over the Lovett trade and our coach has taken the brunt of most of the criticism. This is hardly surprising, he came to EFC with a less than impressive record, rumours abound relating to his part in the Lloyd and Lucas retirements and some of his team selections have been unorthodox to say the least. The descision to extend his current tenure for another 2 years at this point has done nothing for membership morale. However what's done is done, no amount of whinging is going to change it, we are Essendon supporters and the Club and the players is what it is about at the end of the day. Win or lose I will always support our team.