CARLTON ruckman Andrew Phillips is set to request a move to Essendon in what shapes as the first trade between the arch-rivals in 16 years.
AFL.com.au understands Phillips was on Monday leaning towards a move to the Bombers, knocking back a one-year deal at Ikon Park for greater opportunity at Tullamarine.
Phillips, 28, is set to join his third AFL club after 41 games at Greater Western Sydney (2012-2015) and Carlton (2016-2019).
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With a transaction to be facilitated before Wednesday, Phillips' pending trade would be the first since Justin Murphy's move from the Blues to the Bombers in exchange for Cory McGrath in 2003, and Matthew Allan went from Carlton to Essendon the same year.
Phillips' expected departure comes as the Blues start negotiations with Hawthorn ruckman Marc Pittonet after winning his commitment on a two-year deal on Monday.
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Carlton list boss Stephen Silvagni said Phillips' uncertainty led the Blues to pursuing Pittonet as another No.2 ruckman after delisting Matthew Lobbe in August.
Phillips met with the Bombers a fortnight ago to explore his options.
"Andrew (Phillips) was a required player," Silvagni said.
"But he chose to search the market place, so right at the minute our efforts are in trying to get Marc Pittonet to our football club."
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Phillips would add greater depth to the Bombers' ruck stocks behind Tom Bellchambers and youngster Sam Draper, who recently re-signed until the end of 2023.
Essendon's pre-season supplemental selection period signing Zac Clarke remains without an offer for 2020. - Mitch Cleary
Crow's future still up in the air
The future of Josh Jenkins remains in limbo with just two days left in the Telstra AFL Trade Period, with Adelaide revealing it has yet to receive any contact from rival clubs about the out-of-favour forward.
Jenkins, who is willing to take a pay cut to play elsewhere next season, requested a trade away from the Crows in the days leading up to the exchange period after an indifferent year.
The 200cm forward was dropped on two different occasions throughout a frustrating 2019 campaign, having kicked 239 goals in the five years prior to last season.
However, despite a number of clubs being tentatively linked to Jenkins throughout the last fortnight, Adelaide list manager Justin Reid confirmed on Monday that no clubs had yet to come forward and officially register their interest in the 30-year-old.
"Not at this stage, no," Reid said.
Adelaide is preparing for a busy 48 hours, with a number of players set to leave the club as it prepares to regenerate its list under a new coach next season.
Veteran forward Eddie Betts officially returned to Carlton on Monday, with deals for Hugh Greenwood (Gold Coast), Sam Jacobs (GWS), Alex Keath (Western Bulldogs) and Jenkins still to be completed. – Riley Beveridge
'Shaz' on the move?
Collingwood remains willing to trade contracted defender Matt Scharenberg as its salary cap squeeze extends to various players.
Scharenberg's current deal expires at the end of next year but he was overlooked for both of the Pies' finals after playing the last five home and away matches.
The 24-year-old could be open to a move in the right situation, with his close friend and fellow South Australian James Aish deciding whether to accept a three-year offer from Fremantle.
Scharenberg was in career-best form before suffering a third anterior cruciate ligament tear – and second on his left knee – against Richmond in round 19 last year.
Out-of-contract midfielder Rupert Wills has also been caught up in all this, while Tom Phillips, who re-signed through 2021, quickly shut down any suggestion he could be available. – Marc McGowan
Bonar not part of Patton talks
There is still haggling going on with the Jon Patton-to-Hawthorn move.
What shaped as one of the earliest deals of the Trade Period is instead heading towards potentially being a deadline-day trade.
Giants list manager Jason McCartney told SEN radio last week that they wanted "a mid-third-round pick" for Patton but hinted there were going to be multiple draft selections involved in the swap.
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AFL.com.au understands one trade chip that hasn't featured in those discussions is 2017 No.11 draft pick Aiden Bonar, who is contracted for another two seasons.
Bonar, who underwent two knee reconstructions as a teenager, received a tidy pay rise when he signed a two-year extension in March last year but has appeared only six times at senior level.
The 20-year-old is interested in a return to Victoria if it can be facilitated, with GWS seeking a selection in the 20s. –Marc McGowan
Blues ramp up small forward chase
Carlton held discussions with both Sydney and Gold Coast on Monday, as the club ramps up its efforts to secure the signatures of speedy forwards Tom Papley and Jack Martin.
The Blues remain hopeful of luring the duo to Ikon Park before the Telstra AFL Trade Period closes at 7.30pm AEDT on Wednesday, with both this and next year's first-round draft picks understood to be on the table in trade talks.
Sydney has so far appeared reluctant to let the contracted Papley leave the club and remains tied down in its own negotiations for Essendon forward Joe Daniher, though Carlton remains optimistic it will be able to get a deal for its top trade priority over the line.
"There have been discussions with Sydney," Blues list manager Stephen Silvagni said.
"We're hopeful that we can get a deal done in the next 48 hours.
"They have said to us they'd love for Tom to stay at their football club and that he is a contracted player, but we're hopeful we can get a deal done that's fair and reasonable for both footy clubs."
Despite the complex nature of both deals involving Papley and Martin, the Blues remain hopeful of ensuring each player is not left in limbo until the final stages of what is set to be a dramatic deadline day.
"(They won't) necessarily go down to the wire," Silvagni said.
"We've had discussions today, so hopefully something can happen quicker rather than later." – Riley Beveridge
In other news:
- Fremantle tabled a three-year offer to Collingwood defender James Aish, in an attempt to pair him with new Dockers coach and former Pies assistant Justin Longmuir.
- Marc Pittonet informed Hawthorn of his desire to move to Carlton on a two-year deal as the new Blues' No.2 ruckman behind Matthew Kreuzer.
- Gold Coast secured the signature of sought-after forward Ben King until the end of 2022, putting an end to St Kilda's plan in pairing King with brother Max at Moorabbin.
- The AFL ruled out adding another trade period for 2020, informing clubs of the move on Monday.
- Gold Coast agreed to terms with its former ruckman Zac Smith to move back to the club after four years at Geelong. A trade with the Cats is expected to be finalised before Wednesday's deadline.
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