Essendon's draft sanctions could impact Bombers' future midfield DANNY Corcoran might want to begin spending his weekends scouring the TAC Cup. For this is the second time Essendon's footy operations boss has been involved in something that cost the club valuable draft picks. In 1999, it lost its first two picks for salary cap breaches, and last night the supplement mess stripped the club of its first two picks this year and, effectively, its second pick next year. Essendon received back an end of first round pick in next year's draft after a day of hard bargaining. As it stands, Essendon's list is very good. Age-wise and quality. The spine is outstanding. They have big forwards and contested ball winners, a proven finals recipe. But finding replacements down the track for 28-year-olds Jobe Watson and Brendon Goddard plus Brent Stanton (27) when they retire just got so much harder. Good luck competing with GWS and Gold Coast in four or so. Veteran list manager Adrian Dodoro has found some late gems in recent years such as Michael Hibberd, Cale Hooker and Nick Kommer. Tom Bellchambers was a pre-season pick. Stewart Crameri and Heath Hocking were rookies. But he will have to get creative on the trade front now. With so many gun big men, Essendon's plan clearly was to bring in two or three top-quality midfielders in the next two years. But now they will have to be uncovered with picks 40 and 50-odd from Frankston's VFL team or the like. It's a tough ask when this year's draft already has ordinary depth. Recruiters aren't that confident of what will be left after pick 40. Next year is tipped to be much better. Trading some guns such as Crameri and maybe Tayte Pears could help them to get back into the first two rounds, but ruckman Bellchambers is said to be off-limits. That premiership Essendon was building torward might now be gone.