A lack of early draft picks means it is unlikely Essendon will secure young Gold Coast midfielder Josh Caddy during the current trade period.

With the Suns setting a high price on the talented young on baller, Essendon list manager Adrian Dodoro said it would be hard for the Bombers to pick up the 20-year-old.

“It is difficult because we don’t have an early draft selection to trade, with our second pick currently at 32 and with compensation that could go out to 34,” Dodoro said.

“It does knock you out of a lot of deals and the Josh Caddy deal is a case in point.

“We are just going to be too far out of it in terms of draft selections to offer the Gold Coast anything so that won’t occur.”

Dodoro said the Bombers would be in search of another midfielder if the right deal came across the table.

“Obviously if we could obtain another midfielder that would be good,” he said.

“We are happy to go to the draft table now if nothing happens but there is still two and a half weeks ahead and a lot can happen.”

The AFL trade period deadline is on October 26 at 2pm.