ESSENDON never wanted to lose Stewart Crameri and its forward line has struggled at times this year without him. But its trade with the Western Bulldogs is shaping as a win-win deal for all involved.

On Sunday, during the Bombers' thumping of Collingwood , Zach Merrett starred, and Patrick Ambrose and Paul Chapman both kicked three goals. None of that might have happened had Crameri still been at the club.

After weeks of haggling, Crameri finally became a Bulldog during last year's trade period when Essendon accepted the Bulldogs' second-round draft pick for him. At that stage, it was pick No.22, but they knew with compensation picks to be delivered, it would be pushed out a few spots.

It ended up being selection 26 which, at the time, felt light on for the Bombers, given the Dogs had lured Crameri on a four-year deal worth about $1.8 million. Essendon hoped for a pick in the teens.





Knowing that the Bulldogs' prized No.4 pick was always off limits, they had asked for a swap of third-round selections as well but that was knocked back.

It was a second-round selection or Crameri could walk into the pre-season draft and Essendon would get nothing for him. That was always a last resort for the Bulldogs and not they way they wanted to do business, but it was still an option if all else failed.





It's unlikely any other club would have snatched him before the Dogs' pre-season selection, such was his determination to head there.

But it was important for the Bulldogs they got the deal done, too. They had targeted Crameri from early in the year, thinking he was gettable.

He wavered at times, needing extra time to make his decision as the trade period loomed but finally sided with the longer-term contract and a fresh home. The Bulldogs had not only landed a forward – an important piece in their list build – but at 25, he was in the right age bracket, and he had come from a big Melbourne club.

For the first time in a long while, they had been able to drag a good player out of a local rival in his peak. It was a strong tick for what they were doing and putting together.

Essendon's list management and recruiting team, meanwhile, knew it had to make the most of every selection after being stripped of picks at the 2013 and 2014 NAB AFL Drafts as part of the supplements fallout. The Crameri trade got them back into the early part of the pool, and they went to work.

Merrett, as the younger brother of Jackson, had always been on their radar. They liked his smarts and kicking and were taken by his elite, quick and powerful hands.

When they did the trade for Crameri, they didn't have a specific player in mind for the pick they got in return but as it got closer, Merrett became a more realistic option. He was always in their mix, and they had him ranked around the top 15-20 players. Most clubs had him in the 20-30 group, including the Bulldogs.

But the Bombers' list strategy was telling them they needed a young ruckman, and one was available at 26, in West Australian giant Rory Lobb. When their pick came around, Lobb was still up for grabs, as was a speedy midfielder in Lewy Taylor, and a hardened one in Trent Dumont. Merrett was still on the board.

They loved Merrett but knew they needed a tall, and really liked what Lobb offered. They took a moment, thought about it as a group, and list manager Adrian Dodoro swung around on his chair and called Merrett's name. The other three were taken in the next four picks.

Merrett has shown to be an inspired call and not just for uniting the brothers in red and black.

Merrett has provided important zip. He's classy, tenacious and hard, with a booming left foot finish. In 13 games, he has been among the Bombers' best on several occasions, including his dynamic 24-possession, two-goal effort against the Magpies at the MCG last week.

When Merrett first arrived at Essendon, captain Jobe Watson remarked that the first round must have been star-studded for Merrett to reach the Bombers' pick.





In an even year of NAB AFL Rising Star contenders, a strong finish to the season should see Merrett in contention for votes.

Zach Merrett (below) has produced an outstanding first season with the Bombers. Picture: AFL Media















Crameri's exit opened up some salary cap space, which triggered the Bombers' bid for Chapman. They probably could have afforded the Geelong premiership forward if they kept Crameri but it would have been tighter.

The next move was to go to the rookie draft and pick up Ambrose, who had been earmarked a long way out by the club, having played for its VFL side. Had they kept Crameri, they would still have rookied Ambrose but it's unlikely he would have had the same senior exposure, such are the similarities in the hard-running, lead-up roles they both play.

Crameri has done exactly what the Bulldogs had hoped. He has played every game, kicked 26 goals, and should surpass his best season tally of his career (34 in 2011).

Although coach Brendan McCartney recently said the ongoing ASADA issue involving his former club had affected Crameri's form, he has had a big impact around Whitten Oval.

His high work rate and running has helped educate some of the younger tall forwards around the club and when things weren't going well at the start of the year for the Bulldogs, he shouldered much of the responsibility in attack.

Crameri wasn't brought to the club as a savior but a piece of its puzzle as it put together an exciting, young and vibrant list. He has done that, and when other key options grow around him, Crameri will benefit.





He has delivered what the Dogs asked.

So too has Merrett for the Bombers, in a different way with different expectations. When the clubs meet on Sunday at Etihad Stadium, both can be pleased with how the trade ended up.