ESSENDON looms as Aiden Bonar's last resort of finding a new club during this year's Telstra AFL Trade Period, as the wantaway Giant seeks a return home to Victoria.
AFL.com.au understands Bonar met with the Bombers regarding a potential move on Monday, having previously received little interest during the exchange period.
However, the youngster is no guarantee to ultimately land at Tullamarine, given Essendon is tied up in a number of other deals that remain in limbo heading into deadline day.
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It is still attempting to block star forward Joe Daniher's move to Sydney, while it is also trying to seal trades for Brisbane defender Tom Cutler and Carlton ruckman Andrew Phillips.
AFL.com.au reported in May that Bonar had been placed on the trade table by the Giants, but that his contract – believed to be worth upwards of $400,000 per season – would be the stumbling block in the talented 20-year-old finding a new home in October.
Bonar, recruited to the Giants with pick No.11 in the 2017 NAB AFL Draft, has managed just six games in two seasons after struggling to crack a supremely talented Giants midfield.
That midfield will also be strengthened further next season by the return of co-captain Callan Ward from injury, while Academy gun Tom Green is also set to land at the club.
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A well-built onballer at 188cm and 87kg, Bonar has played both forward and through the midfield with the Giants. His junior career was hampered by successive ACL injuries.
He is contracted with the Giants for a further two years until 2021.
Essendon currently has picks No.31, 33, 57, 65, 70 and 88 to work with. - Riley Beveridge
The Saint set to unlock Hill deal
Blake Acres is en route to Perth and will undergo medical testing on Wednesday morning before being the cherry on top of Fremantle football boss Peter Bell's deal for Bradley Hill.
The dramatic developments in recent days in the Hill negotiations will spill over to trade deadline day before the star wingman's passage from Fremantle to the Saints is complete.
St Kilda will part with pick 10 (acquired in the Dougal Howard and Paddy Ryder deal), a future second-round selection, No.58 (which will be part of the pending Jack Steven trade) and Acres.
The two clubs could also swap future draft picks to round out the trade.
Acres, who is from Western Australia, entered the fray extremely late, although there had been some discussion about him before Tuesday without ever being too serious.
AFL.com.au understands it wasn't the 24-year-old midfielder who initiated the move, after 75 games for the Saints since being a top-20 pick in 2013.
Both parties agreed upon the basic details of the deal on Monday – in full knowledge of the impending Steven, Zac Smith and pick 58 arrangement – but a potential three-way deal didn't eventuate.
Instead, Port Adelaide and St Kilda completed a separate trade.
Howard, Ryder, No.10 and a future fourth-round pick went to Moorabbin, while the Power received selections 12 and 18 and a future third-round choice.
The Hill trade's been somewhat of a saga, with the first significant moment coming last week, when the Saints packaged picks No.6 and 59 for the Giants' 12 and 18.
Bell was originally chasing two first-round draft picks, plus a future third-round selection, as the price for Hill but St Kilda swiftly turned that down.
The Saints' decision so early in the Trade Period took Bell and co. by surprise, but they were able to resume negotiations and a deal will be done before the deadline. - Marc McGowan
Two down, three to go at Moorabbin
After locking away Dougal Howard and Paddy Ryder, St Kilda will turn its attention to Hill, Zak Jones and Dan Butler before Wednesday's deadline.
List boss James Gallagher maintained he was confident on securing all five deals, with the most work required to do surrounding Saints' players going out.
Heading into the penultimate day, the Saints and Dogs were some distance apart on their value of contracted Saint Josh Bruce in his desire to land at Whitten Oval.
However, conversations between the Saints and Dogs on Tuesday afternoon have broken down the stalemate, with the Dogs' pick 32 to form part of the deal to be finalised on Wednesday.
"Brucey's indicated he'd like to take the opportunity to go and play for the Bulldogs, that's OK, I didn't get too angry or emotional about that," Gallagher said earlier on Tuesday afternoon.
"But what it does mean is he's contracted to us, we need to get a deal that is a fair reflection of how important he is to our footy club.
"The sticking point is the Bulldogs' and our interpretation of what a fair reflection of his ability is, that's all it is. I'm hopeful that we can bridge the gap over the next 24 hours."
With Acres heading west to meet the Dockers, the Saints are edging closer to a resolution with Geelong over Jack Steven.
The Saints have shared strong dialogue with Sydney over Jones' move back home to Victoria and is likely to hinge on compensation received for Bruce.
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Meantime, Butler's move to St Kilda isn't expected to be as complicated.
"We've had some good conversations with Dan, his management and Richmond," Gallagher said.
"In a perfect world we can get something that's a really fair reflection of Dan's talent and ability in the next 24 hours as well."
The Saints conceded their desired five trade targets was rare for one single trade period and wouldn't happen for some time into the future.
In other news...
- Matthew Nicks is the new Adelaide coach, with the former Greater Western Sydney assistant beating competition from Scott Burns, Adem Yze, Robert Harvey and Adam Kingsley to be handed his first senior coaching position.
- After months of speculation, former No.1 draft pick Jon Patton is officially a Hawthorn player. The Hawks parted with a future fourth-round draft selection to secure the key forward.
- St Kilda landed the first two of its five trade targets, securing a deal with Port Adelaide that saw defender Dougal Howard and ruckman Paddy Ryder move to Moorabbin. The Saints received the two players, plus pick No.10 and a future fourth-round in the deal, giving up picks No.12, 18 and a future third-round selection.
- Billy Frampton will join an exclusive list of just six players to feature for both Port Adelaide and Adelaide, having moved to the Crows on Tuesday. Adelaide parted with a future fourth-round pick to land the developing ruckman.
- North Melbourne will be keeping a close eye on Melbourne next season, having completed a high-profile future pick-swap. The Kangaroos gave the Dees their pick No.8 in this year's draft, receiving the Demons' future first-round selection in return, as well as picks No.26 and 50.
- Gold Coast's promising trade period continued, with the club sealing a bargain move for hardened midfielder Hugh Greenwood. The Suns parted with future third and fourth-round draft picks to secure the former basketballer.
- Greater Western Sydney has found a way to solve its ruck dilemma, securing a trade for veteran Adelaide big man Sam Jacobs. The Giants gave up a future fourth-round draft pick to land the 201-game player.
- Collingwood has sealed a move for ruckman Darcy Cameron. Sydney received pick No.56 as part of the deal, while giving up Cameron and pick No.62.
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