ESSENDON should keep the first selection in the NAB AFL Draft to help generate publicity for the club, says AFL talent manager Kevin Sheehan.
Bombers list manager Adrian Dodoro said four clubs had been in contact about the possibility of trading for the pick with AFL.com.au on Sunday revealing Greater Western Sydney was one of those clubs.
Dodoro said Essendon was likely to keep the selection and Sheehan agreed with that stance at the opening of the NAB AFL Draft Combine on Thursday at Etihad Stadium.
"It's terrific to have the advantage of the No.1 pick to promote your footy club. Things are different these days. It's not just a story that runs for two or three days. The speculation's pretty healthy," Sheehan said.
"It'd want to be a pretty good offer to give up the No.1 saddle cloth position in the draft, because you do get the front and back page for quite a number of days, to help sell hope for your footy club, and that's what the draft's about.
"You'd want a very, very good offer to give it up, even if it is for a couple of players."
Meanwhile, South Australian inside midfielder Jonty Scharenberg said the possibility of playing with his brother Matthew at Collingwood excited him.
The Magpie has had much of his career wiped out by two knee reconstructions.
"Ideally it would be nice (to stay in South Australia), but I've always wanted to play AFL footy so I'd be prepared to move anywhere," Scharenberg said.
"It would be awesome playing with Matt."
Vic Country half-forward Jy Simpkin broke his leg in April and is still recovering, but expects he will be right to go by the time he is drafted.
"I just started running last week so I'm slowly … starting to do some straight line running," Simpkin said.
"Hopefully by the start of pre-season I should be right back in the full swing of things."
Want more Draft Combine news?
• NAB AFL Draft Combine: latest news and video
• Inside the Combine: the tests and top performers
• Latest draft order: Which picks does your club taking to the draft?
