Essendon legend Michael Long wanted to be part of the Bombers' pursuit of Keidean Coleman.

There was just one problem, the then-Brisbane dasher couldn't pick up the phone.

The Lions reluctantly traded the silky half-back to Essendon in the dying stages of the AFL trade period on Wednesday night.

Coleman requested a trade to Tullamarine after flying to Melbourne with his family to meet with new coach Mark McVeigh and list boss Matt Rosa.

A Katherine native, the 26-year-old was sold on the Bombers' proud Indigenous history and playing in big games such Dreamtime at the 'G and on Anzac Day.

Essendon sought to enlist Norm Smith medallist and dual premiership champion Long in their pitch for Coleman, but it didn't quite go to plan.

"I did get a couple of phone calls," Coleman told SEN Radio on Thursday.

"But he (Long) called me when I was on the plane on the way to Melbourne and then he called me on the plane on the way back to Brisbane.

"So I didn't actually catch him but Spike (McVeigh) did say he was trying to get a hold of me."

Coleman planned to get back to Long later on Thursday after what he described as a whirlwind 24 hours.

After starring in Brisbane's narrow 2023 grand final loss to Collingwood, he has managed just 15 senior games across three injury-plagued seasons.

The defender harbours no hard feelings about missing out on the Lions' past three premierships, but was keen on a fresh start.

"I feel as though I just need to be playing more AFL games," Coleman said.

Australian Associated Press