ESSENDON will seek an early second-round pick in exchange for defender Michael Hibberd, who has requested to be traded by the club.
The 26-year-old informed the Bombers last week that he wanted to seek a fresh start once his 12-month WADA ban ends, with Melbourne his likely destination.
The Dees don't hold a first-round draft selection this year, with their opening choice coming at No.27 with the ladder as present.
However, Essendon coach John Worsfold said the club would be eyeing an earlier pick as compensation for the damaging half-back.
"What we think is fair may be different to what other clubs think is fair, but I would guess a pick in the early second round would be fair for us," Worsfold said on Tuesday ahead of the Bombers' season-ending game against Carlton this weekend.
Hibberd is the first of the 12 banned Bombers who has decided to pursue his career elsewhere, with eight players having either signed new deals or recommitted to returning next season.
Jobe Watson, Ben Howlett and Tayte Pears are yet to confirm their plans for next year.
Essendon has marketed Saturday's contest with the Blues as a chance to thank its 10 'top-up' players for their service this season, but Worsfold said the club wouldn't be sentimental in its team selection.
Last week four of the Bombers' 10 short-term players faced the Western Bulldogs – James Kelly, Mark Jamar, Mathew Stokes and Matt Dea – but Stokes has since retired.
"We're not going to select the team just by saying thanks to them," Worsfold said.
"They've understood all year our selection criteria so we'll stick with that, but it is a day where we'll have them all at the ground and acknowledge them in a fairly significant way, both for our playing group and for our fans to get the chance to thank them."
Captain Brendon Goddard is expected to return from a groin injury that has kept him sidelined the past two weeks, but a decision has yet to be reached on Adam Cooney, who last week announced his retirement.
The former Bulldogs star played his 250th game against his old club last week and it is unclear if he will face the Blues. "We'll make that call tomorrow," Worsfold said.
The clash still carries importance for the Bombers, who can avoid their first wooden spoon since 1933 if they beat the Blues and get above the 17th-placed Brisbane Lions on percentage.
But Worsfold said the club wasn't thinking about that heading into their final game of a challenging year.
"We want to finish the year playing really good footy, see what happens, aim to win and push ourselves to the limit for our last game for 2016. There is no talk about anything else," he said.
