• Draft order: Your club's provisional picks
• AFL.com.au's best 22 of potential trade targets
ESSENDON and St Kilda appear on the verge of completing their drawn-out negotiations over Jake Carlisle after Sydney Swans midfielder Craig Bird emerged as a possible component of the deal on Tuesday.
The Swans were drawn into the Bombers and Saints' stalled negotiations this week because their first-round pick, No.14 overall, was seen as a possible circuit-breaker.
Trade Wrap: Tigers and Blues in Yarran stand-off
On Tuesday, a proposed deal emerged in which it is believed:
• St Kilda would receive Carlisle and picks No.14 and 44, and give up picks No.5 and 24.
• Essendon would receive pick No.5 and Bird, and give up Carlisle and picks No.25 and 44.
• The Swans would receive picks No.24 and 25, and give up pick No.14 and Bird.
Essendon and St Kilda had hoped that the deal would be signed off by the close of business on Tuesday.
However, Bird – who only met with the Bombers for the first time that day – understandably wanted more time to consider the Dons' offer.
Bird, 26, is contracted with the Swans for 2016, but is open to a trade after playing just six senior games this year, including just one after round five.
Bird had his share of injuries in 2015 but seemed to fall out of favour after he was dropped following the Swans' round five loss to the Western Bulldogs.
The proposed trade benefits the Swans because it affords them more points to use on draft night under the new father-son and academy bidding system.
The Swans have access to likely top-five talent Callum Mills from their academy. The combined points value of No.24 and No.25 is 1541 points, while pick No.14 on its own is worth 1161 points - a difference of 380 points, or the equivalent of pick No.43.
How the new bidding system works: Click here to read the AFL's full explanantion
Essendon is keen to add the 2012 premiership player to its midfield mix after losing Jake Melksham in a trade to Melbourne.
Bird has played 137 games at the Swans since joining the club as a NSW scholarship holder in the 2007 NAB AFL Draft.
He finished in the top 10 of the Swans' best and fairest award in their 2012 premiership year and again in 2013.
