Essendon are prepared to use their West Australian first-round AFL draft picks Paddy Ryder and Scott Gumbleton in trade negotiations for Chris Judd, according to captain Matthew Lloyd.

Essendon are considered among the front-runners to sign the former West Coast captain and Brownlow Medallist, who will return to his home city of Melbourne.

The Bombers recruited Ryder at No.7 in the 2005 national draft and Gumbleton came to the club at No.2 last year.

They will have the No.6 pick in this year's draft.

"We'll have pick six and where I think West Coast are going to like Essendon is we have plenty of great West Australian young talent at our footy club," Lloyd said on radio station Sport 927.

When asked if he was happy that Essendon might trade away Ryder or Gumbleton, Lloyd replied: "no, I'm not, but he's the best player in the comp and it's going to hurt.

"Saying that, I'm not sure how the young players feel."

Leroy Jetta is another former WA player who might feature in negotiations.

Lloyd also was confident Essendon would have a new coach by trade week.

The lack of a replacement for Kevin Sheedy is seen as a handicap for the Bombers as they try to attract Judd.

Lloyd said the senior coach selection was now down to three, one of whom is believed to be Hawthorn assistant and former Essendon premiership player Damien Hardwick.

"Our senior coach is going to be someone who's pretty strong-disciplined, a younger coach who's raring to go," Lloyd said.

"That will happen before trade period, when Chris comes about."

Regardless of the scenario, Lloyd made it clear Essendon are determined to snare Judd.

"We're going for it ... we feel that's exactly what we lack in the midfield, that pace that we just haven't had," Lloyd said.

"We've put that into the side with (Jason) Winderlich and (Andrew) Lovett and those types of players, but where I reckon we've struggled is ... the 2000-01 drafts, we've got no-one left.

"We really probably dropped the baton there.

"To get a 24-year-old who's the best player in the competition, we're all for it."

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