Essendon have had a win in the AFL trade period, picking up highly-rated utility Shaun Edwards from Greater Western Sydney.
The Bombers traded their first draft pick at No.48 for Edwards and fellow Giant Kurt Aylett.
Adelaide had also wanted to strike a deal for Edwards, 19, who has played 12 senior games.
Essendon have no picks in the first two rounds of next month’s national draft, part of the punishments from the AFL for their supplements scandal.
It is the Bombers’ first deal in this trade period, which ends on Friday.
There had been speculation that the No.48 pick could feature in the negotiations with the Western Bulldogs for Essendon forward Stewart Crameri.
The Bombers tried to lure free agent Nick Dal Santo from St Kilda, but he went to North Melbourne instead.
There are big wraps on Edwards, who is in Ireland with the Indigenous All Stars team.
Crows legend Andrew McLeod, who is also on the tour, had urged Adelaide football manager David Noble to go after Edwards.
“He can play – he’s a good size, he carries the ball, he has beautiful skills,” McLeod told 5AA.
“He is lightning quick (and) having Shaun coming off the half-back flank for the Crows would be amazing.”
But the Bombers managed to beat Adelaide to the punch with the package deal.
Aylett, 21, is an injury-prone defender who played one game last season for the Giants.