Essendon chief Craig Vozzo has revealed the Bombers may already be "in the mix" for as many as four player targets prior to the 2025 season getting underway, with the Victorian powerhouse in a position where they "certainly have capacity" to bolster their list with experience via trade and free agency.
The Bombers will carry a strong draft hand into the off-season no matter the result of their coming campaign, with Essendon in possession of two first-round picks (theirs and Melbourne's) and two second-round picks (theirs and St Kilda's).
Having managed their salary cap "really well for a number of years", the Dons are in a position to offer competitive deals to both their own players and potential acquisitions over the course of the year.
While still planning to remain relevant come draft night, the Bombers are hoping to use all accessible player movement levers to strengthen their list build under Brad Scott.
In an interview onย essendonfc.com.au,ย Vozzo was quizzed on the club's potential list planning for the year ahead, flagging "three to four players" are in their sights.
"We're certainly in the mix, no doubt, with at least three to four players," the Bombers CEO revealed.
"(Age profile) can be (important). From our point of view, it's making sure we've got enough youth coming in and having that right balance of experience.
"But it's more around positional need for us, that's the critical one, and high-end talent.
"We certainly have capacity to acquire, the TPP (Total Player Payments) has been managed really well for a number of years. So we're in a really good space to reward existing players and to laterally acquire."
The Bombers secured Melbourne's first-round selection on draft night last year in what was a trade gamble for the club, who had a risk in holding onto their own opening selection for last year's count in case a rival bid for NGA prospect Isaac Kako fell before they were on the clock.
The Demons acquired what would eventually land as Pick 11, with a bid for Kako coming two selections later.
While questioned by some, a bid for Kako may have been triggered earlier if the Bombers were still in the first-round queue.
The result of their trade with Melbourne has seen Essendon equipped with a pair of first-round picks for the 2025 intake, giving the club the ability to either continue going to the draft, acquire quality talent through the trade period, or potentially utilise both avenues.
"We geared ourselves up for flexibility. The Kako opportunity wasn't just to get high-end talent in an area of the ground that was really important for us, it gave us an opportunity through the system to create draft selections both last year and this year," Vozzo added.
"We'll look to pull all levers. Whether that's the draft, acquisition through free agency or trade, we'll look at all of that.
"Like all good clubs, we're out to market. It's about the right fit and the area of need that's going to help us elevate."
Essendon do not hold selections for the third and four rounds of this year's draft, however the club will be permitted to trade selections for the 2026 and 2027 counts from this off-season.
