PLAYER managers are divided about whether opposition players considering a change of club will be put off heading to Essendon during this year's free agency and trade period.
AFL.com.au spoke with a host of player managers in the wake of the hefty AFL penalties imposed on the Bombers on Tuesday night, which included a $2 million fine and draft penalties stretching across 2013-14.
Nearly all agents agreed any opposition club considering recruiting players who were at Essendon during the controversial supplements program would think twice.
"There will be an amount of apprehension from other clubs about recruiting Essendon players given the ASADA investigation remains ongoing," one player manager said.
"It might only be a small amount of apprehension, but no one can take the ASADA investigation for granted.
"I'm not saying it will, but proof could still emerge that players have taken prohibited substances and if it does they'll each face a decent stint on the sidelines."
During its negotiations with the AFL this week, Essendon was concerned that if the supplements saga was not resolved and lingered into the off-season, its ability to attract players from other clubs would be affected.
But one manager said the draft penalties Essendon agreed to as part of Tuesday night's settlement could dissuade opposition players from considering the Bombers as a new home given Carlton's on-field fortunes plummeted after it was hit with similar draft penalties at the end of 2002.
Carlton, who was found guilty of large-scale salary cap breaches, lost its first and second-round picks in two consecutive national drafts, 2002 and 2003.
"I think some players will be wary of going to Essendon, especially those who remember the years of pain that Carlton went through after its draft penalties," the manager said.
"And I'd imagine if you've got a player who's narrowed his decision down to another club and Essendon and it's a line-ball decision, well he's probably going to go to the other club."
However, another manager dismissed such speculation as "an absolute beat-up", saying he would have no hesitation in recommending Essendon to his clients.
The Bombers have been granted a pick at the end of the first round of the 2014 draft and will be allowed to trade for higher picks in both drafts.
Before its penalties were handed down, Carlton had traded pick No.16 for Port Adelaide's Barnaby French. That trade was allowed to stand, while the Blues also received a priority pick in 2003, No.2 overall, that they used to select Andrew Walker.
