Bye Round 12 Trade Guide: Bombers Chaos & Smart Targets to Buy Now
Brad Scott's sacking has reshaped the Essendon trade landscape AND we're entering bye rounds. Here's how to trade through both without burning your bank.
Bye Round 12 Trade Guide: Bombers Chaos & Smart Targets to Buy Now
Two seismic events in one week: Brad Scott is sacked, and bye rounds are here. They're connected more than you think — and there's value in the overlap.
The Two Big Stories
One: Brad Scott was sacked this morning after Essendon's 1-10 start. James Hird is the frontrunner. The ripple effect across Essendon's list is the biggest SC event of the bye rounds.
Two: Round 12 is the first bye round. Multiple clubs rest — meaning your premiums miss, your bench matters, and smart trades are worth double.
These two stories overlap because Essendon have a bye in R12. By the time they play again (R14 after another bye in R13), the new coach will have had two weeks to implement changes. That makes Bombers buys a R14 play — but the window opens now while their prices are depressed.
Essendon: Who to Buy, Hold, Sell
Buy
Elijah Tsatas ($272k, MID) — The clear #1 trade target. Dropped by Scott after delivering 82 and 101 in his first two games. Pick 5 talent at a rookie price. New coach means midfield minutes. If you held him through the drought, your patience is about to be rewarded.
Sam Durham ($389k, MID) — Averaging 101 in a bottom-4 team. Back-to-back 100+ in R8-R9. If the new coach brings any offensive structure, Durham pushes into premium territory. Already proven value — now he's a hold-then-upgrade endgame piece.
Watchlist
Archie Perkins ($273k, FWD) — Dropped for four weeks under Scott, recalled R9 with 76 and 65. Talent's there — the question is whether the new coach gives him the midfield minutes he needs. If yes, $273k is an absolute steal.
Jye Caldwell ($421k, MID) — Inconsistent under Scott but returned from injury with 92 in R10. The kind of mid-price gamble that either wins you the league or burns a trade.
Hold
Zach Merrett ($572k, MID) — 127.3 average. Premium lock. Coaching change doesn't affect him.
Archie Roberts ($590k, DEF) — Scott called him "rebuild core." Averaging 124.7. Stable regardless.
Sell
Jaxon Prior ($336k, DEF) — 52 in garbage time. Negative cash gen. No upside from a new coach.
Lachlan Blakiston ($229k, DEF) — 29 in a blowout. Game 19, no cash gen. Dead weight.
Bye Round 12: Non-Bombers Smart Targets
While bye rounds thin out premiums, here are buyers from the latest verdicts not on the R12 bye:
Harley Reid ($465k, MID, WCE) — 167 in R10. BE of 68. Under-priced for his ceiling. West Coast don't have the R12 bye.
Darcy Wilson ($426k, MID/FWD, STK) — Averaging 114. Elite BUY with mid-forward DPP. BE of 63.
Oliver Florent ($423k, MID, CARL) — 145 in R10, averaging 106. Producing like a $530k player at a $423k price.
Malakai Champion ($171k, FWD, WCE) — BE of 25. Best bottom-dollar option on the board to fund upgrades.
The Strategy
Your bye week trades should serve two masters:
- Cash gen — prioritise rookies who play through the byes
- Bombers exposure — Tsatas and Durham are the value plays, and they're not wasting a trade during Essendon's bye week (bring them in now, ready for R14)
If you have a Tsatas or Edwards on your bench who was earning nothing under Scott, hold the line. The coaching change is your reward.
Chat through your Round 12 trade plan with the coach →
Updated: May 26, 2026. Brad Scott sacked, Round 12 bye week. Data from RookieBible intel registry — player_verdicts R10-R11.
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