Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd believes that Bombers have failed to be proactive in preparing for the loss of star forward Joe Daniher, with Kane Cornes throwing Suns young gun Ben King's name into the mix as a potential successor.
Daniher joined Brisbane last week after nominating the Lions as his club of choice last month, 12 months on from his original request to leave Essendon in hopes of a move to the Swans.
The Bombers have made their interest known in Bulldogs star Josh Dunkley and Giants young gun Jye Caldwell, with Lloyd believing the clubs main focus should be on a key forward to replace Daniher.
“In the short term, Ben Brown sounds like he’ll play for Melbourne,” Lloyd said on AFL Trade Radio.
“Tom McDonald, I’m not sure where that sits. He’s been linked to GWS and the Sydney Swans.
“But I would have thought that Essendon had realised that Daniher was going to leave for 12 months and would’ve known this.
“For me, (Josh) Dunkley should be secondary, (Jye) Caldwell should be secondary.
“Why haven’t they been working at a Jeremy Cameron quality player realising that Daniher was going to leave?
“So if no one comes in, I’d be disappointed from an Essendon perspective if I’m an Essendon member that they haven’t got someone in the wings and a deal in place for a key forward of note.”
Kane Cornes backed Lloyd's take, naming King as the perfect candidate for the Bombers.
“I would be having a real look at Ben King,” he said.
“I know he’s signed until 2022 but we know it takes time to get players to commit.
“I’d be looking at perhaps the biggest deal the Bombers have ever handed out for Ben King if he keeps progressing the way that we think he will in time.
“But you’re right, they need almost a stop-gap. (Cale) Hooker has played there but doesn’t look to be in the shape that he has been before. Perhaps they go down there for a year or two until they can get in a younger key forward.
“(Jake) Stringer and (Anthony) McDonald-Tipungwuti, I don’t think you can’t rely on those two to be your main targets. (Orazio) Fantasia is also a goal kicker and he’s out.
“The Bombers have been smashed in the goal kicking position and they haven’t replaced anyone to kick 40-plus goals.”
Lloyd backed Bombers youngster Harrison Jones to make his mark on the club on 2021.
“They’ve got a young boy they took with pick 30 in the (2019) draft,” he added.
“Harrison Jones is the one they really like for the future to hold down a key position. He should start playing games next year.
“He’s someone that they took knowing that he wouldn’t play this season but he was the future.
“The reason they moved on Mitch Brown was because they actually got a young boy in the draft and he’s the one they’re looking at.”
