THE PROPOSED Lachie Neale trade to Brisbane has long shaped as the deal that would trigger Jesse Hogan's move to Fremantle and Steven May's switch to Melbourne.
But Dayne Beams' desired return to Collingwood now also appears dependent on Neale being released from his 2019 contract by Fremantle, while it emerged on Tuesday evening that some parties to these deals were seeking to combine them into one eight-club mega trade that would also include wantaway Giant Rory Lobb, Port Adelaide midfielder Chad Wingard and Hawthorn defender Ryan Burton.
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Minor progress was made in shifting the crucial Neale domino when Brisbane and Fremantle met in Melbourne on Tuesday, but the clubs remain some way apart in their talks.
Strictly speaking, the Lions' offer for the dual Dockers best and fairest winner still stands at pick No.5 and Fremantle is still demanding this and another first-round pick.
However, it's understood both parties are inching towards compromise, with Brisbane potentially prepared to add a later pick as a sweetener and the Dockers showing signs of relaxing their demand for an additional first-round selection.
But the clubs will have to reach common ground shortly because Fremantle needs to use pick No.5 as the centrepiece of a deal with Melbourne for Hogan. The Demons, in turn, need to pass that pick on to Gold Coast to have any hope of securing May.
It's also understood Brisbane is not prepared to finalise a trade with Collingwood for Beams unless it has first secured Neale.
The Pies have offered pick No.18 and a future second-round pick for Beams, a deal the Lions quickly refused.
It probably also suits the Lions not to have pick No.18 or any other Collingwood selections in their possession for now, so the Dockers can't seriously eye them as part of the Neale talks.
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Meanwhile, young Hawk Burton is believed to be warming to a move to Port Adelaide that should pave the way for Wingard to get to Hawthorn.
The future of Marcus Adams is not directly tied into the Neale deal but the Western Bulldogs defender's bid to get to Brisbane could come unstuck if the Lions' negotiations on Neale and/or Beams go down to the wire.
The Bulldogs are still insisting on a pick in the 20s for Adams, who is contracted for another two years, while the Lions' second pick in the draft does not fall until No.32.
There remains much to play out before Wednesday's 8.30pm trade deadline.
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Cats up the ante on Kelly
Geelong has turned up the heat on West Coast as it bids for Tim Kelly by demanding a future first-round pick be included in any trade for the contracted midfielder.
AFL.com.au understands the Cats have asked for the Eagles' first-round selection in next year's draft in addition to West Coast's existing offer of picks No.20 and No.22.
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Should the Eagles finish top four again next season, that selection would fall anywhere between 15-18.
The Cats' asking price for Kelly emerged after list boss Stephen Wells indicated on Tuesday that a deal remained unlikely before Wednesday's deadline.
AFL.com.au reported on Monday night the Eagles had put picks 20 and 22 on the table for Kelly.
Signed for 2019 at GMHBA Stadium, Kelly is open to returning to Geelong if the deal falls through but will not entertain a move to Fremantle.
With three children under the age of three, the 24-year-old has asked the Cats to explore a move home to WA for family reasons.
North completes midfield overhaul
Barring an unforeseen late bargain, North finalised its last player trade on Tuesday morning when it claimed Aaron Hall from Gold Coast for pick No.68.
It was a small price to pay for a player of Hall's talent but also a reflection of the 27-year-old midfielder's inability to produce consistently at the Suns.
North coach Brad Scott will back himself to get the best out of Hall, who together with former Port Adelaide pair Jared Polec and Jasper Pittard should bring the line-breaking run the Roos have lacked in recent seasons.
The Kangaroos missed out on their biggest target this year when star free agent Andrew Gaff re-signed with West Coast, but with the additions of Polec, Hall, Pittard and ex-Demon clearance specialist Dom Tyson they have achieved two of their biggest priorities – bolstering their midfield's run and depth, and adding a defensive playmaker in Pittard.
In snaring Hall for pick No.68, North only gave up 59 draft points, which will help as it prepares to match rival bids for Tasmanian Academy member Tarryn Thomas and father-son prospects Bailey Scott and, possibly, Joel Crocker.
North holds picks 31, 42, 48 and 58 in this year's NAB Draft and could yet be involved in a late pick swap that improves its points position.
As it stands, the Roos have a combined 1473 points. This is the equivalent of pick No.6 and will be more than enough to claim Thomas, who is unlikely to attract a bid until the early teens.
North might need to go into points deficit to claim Scott, who could attract a bid in the 30s, but that would only result in their second-round pick sliding down the order next year.
Crocker is likely to get to the Roos for a late pick.
Deadline day chaos looms
Fremantle and Greater Western Sydney's corporate boxes are set to see the most action on Wednesday's final day of the Trade Period as clubs converge on Marvel Stadium.
With doors to open at 9.30am, interstate clubs are expected to be among the early arrivals, with Melbourne-based teams tipped to land around lunchtime ahead of the 8.30pm deadline.
The Dockers have to work through negotiations on Lachie Neale and Jesse Hogan, and will also be trying to broker a trade for Rory Lobb with the Giants.
GWS will also be bidding to finalise Dylan Shiel's desired move to Essendon and could be involved in a late deal for Jeremy Finlayson.
AFL.com.au will have the entire day covered, including exclusive access from 5pm.
In other news:
- Greater Western Sydney is understood to remain steadfast in its request for Essendon's 2018 first-round pick (currently No.9) and its future first-round pick in the transaction for Dylan Shiel. The Giants would likely need to package something along with Shiel to satisfy the Bombers in such a deal.
- Out-of-contract Bombers Mark Baguley and Matthew Leuenberger could be handed some positive news after Essendon's latest round of list management meetings this week, with both expected to land new deals.
- Gold Coast acknowledged publicly for the first time on Tuesday that captain Steven May had requested a trade to Victoria, with Melbourne best placed to satisfy the Suns if it can offload Jesse Hogan.
- Versatile tall Jordan Roughead should get to Collingwood on Wednesday in a trade where the Bulldogs are expected to receive pick No.57 and send pick No.63 back to the Magpies.
- Tom Scully made his way to Hawthorn for a future fourth-round selection, with the Hawks prepared to back themselves to help the former No.1 draft pick return from a serious ankle injury.
- A pick swap between Adelaide and Gold Coast helped finalise a deal for South Australian Tyson Stengle to make his way to the Crows.
- The Suns secured Geelong midfielder George Horlin-Smith, while offloading Aaron Hall to North Melbourne.
- Dual premiership Hawk Taylor Duryea found his way to Whitten Oval on a two-year deal, following in the footsteps of former teammate Matt Suckling in joining ex-Hawks assistant Luke Beveridge.
- The Hawks picked up former No.7 pick Jack Scrimshaw from Gold Coast with a late pick.