ESSENDON is believed to have launched a bid to lure Gold Coast midfielder Josh Caddy back to his home state.
The Bombers hope to trade for the Brisbane Lions' end of round one compensation pick, received last year for the loss of Michael Rischitelli to the Suns.
They would then offer that selection, plus their first round pick (No. 19) in the 2011 NAB AFL Draft, to Gold Coast in exchange for Caddy.
Essendon assistant coach Mark Thompson alluded to the proposed trade at the launch of the club's sponsorship deal with Kia Motors on Friday.
"We're just trying to go under the radar and get something done quietly," Thompson said.
"We've targeted someone that we really want and if we get him, it would be great.
"We're after someone who can add to our midfield."
Caddy endured a difficult first season on the Gold Coast. The 19 year-old spent most of the year sidelined with a foot injury, finally making his AFL debut in round 23.
He is also believed to have suffered from homesickness.
The former Northern Knight impressed at underage level, earning All Australian selection for his performances with Vic Metro at the 2010 NAB AFL under-18 championships.
He also won the clean hands test at the NAB AFL Combine, and was in the top 10 in the beep test and 3km time trial, before being selected by Gold Coast at No.7 in last year's draft.
When contacted by AFL.com.au on Friday, Suns football manager Marcus Ashcroft said: "It comes as no surprise that there is interest in a number of our players, but at this stage it remains speculation."
The Bombers have made no secret of their desire to add midfield depth leading into 2012.
"We'd love to see a fast midfielder who could come and win a premiership for us, but they don't normally throw them around," Essendon senior coach James Hird said before Monday's first round of trade week meetings.
"We think we've got the right amount of depth at both ends of the ground, and we need to get midfielders into the team."
No trades are official until paperwork has been accepted by the AFL and formally recognised after 2pm on Monday, October 17.
Follow our complete coverage of the 2011 AFL exchange period from October 10-17. Join the AFL trade conversation on Twitter: use #tradeweek in your tweets
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
