It was a bleak picture for Essendon during last year\u2019s trade period.<\/p>\n
Few were predicting the success that would come in 2021 after finishing 13th on the AFL ladder.<\/p>\n
Key players Joe Daniher, Adam Saad, and Orazio Fantastia all turned their backs on the club to request trades and rookie coach Ben Rutten took over for his first season in charge.<\/p>\n
However, the Bombers were able to see some light in the tunnel by heading to the draft with three top 10 draft picks, and a year on the young team have made giant strides.<\/p>\n
Archie Perkins and Nik Cox have shown they have the potential to become great AFL players, while fellow draftee Zach Reid played just the one game before glandular fever and back injuries.<\/p>\n
The club surged up the ladder in 2020 off the back of good drafting and shrewd recruiting to make the finals after many predicted a lowly season, and Brendon Goddard believes it\u2019s off the back of one \u201csliding doors\u201d moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cPrior to going to the draft, the sliding doors moment, Josh Dunkley [had requested a trade to Essendon and the Western Bulldogs] wanted two first-rounders [in return],\u201d Goddard told AFL Trade Radio\u2019s Trade Mornings<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere would they be now, what would it look like? No Nik Cox, is it Zac Reid or Archie Perkins?<\/p>\n \u201cWe all thought it was doom and gloom with Joe Daniher, Adam Saad, and Orazio Fantasia walking out, and then what they\u2019ve got in and the position they\u2019re in, it\u2019s been an incredible job by Essendon.<\/p>\n