WEST COAST'S landmark deal to secure wantaway Geelong midfielder Tim Kelly could drop as soon as Wednesday after significant progress in the past 24 hours.
AFL.com.au understands the Eagles have agreed, in principle, to send two first-round picks and this year's second-round pick (24) to the Cats with a swap of later selections.
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Geelong's demand of more than two first-round picks for their star onballer is set to come true with the ball now in the Eagles' court to finalise the second- and third-round picks on Wednesday.
The combined points on the Draft Value Index would see it equate to a bigger deal than recent transactions for Dylan Shiel, Lachie Neale and Adam Treloar.
The Eagles have placed this year's pick No.14, next year's first-round pick and this year's No.24 on the table for Kelly, who has finished runner-up in Geelong's best and fairest in his first two AFL seasons.
The later swap – to be ticked off by Eagles football manager Craig Vozzo and stand-in list manager Scott Clayton – could also see the Eagles' pick 33 find its way to the Cats.
That swap is also expected to see Geelong send future selections to the Eagles.
Should Geelong get its hands on 33, that is a selection that has been earmarked for the acquisition of Saint Jack Steven.
With the Saints now expecting to receive a second-round selection, it is understood both parties are on the same page in the Saints paying a portion of his wage for 2020.
The Cats are currently armed with picks 17 and 36. - Mitch Cleary
Jacobs deal pending
Adelaide ruckman Sam Jacobs' move to Greater Western Sydney is pending AFL clarification on how it could impact on the Giants' free agency compensation for Adam Tomlinson.
Tomlinson signed with the Demons on Monday and GWS will receive some level of compensation for him leaving.
However, the final compensation depends on what each club gains and loses from free agency in totality.
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Jacobs can join the Giants as a free agent and will sign a two-year deal.
But if the AFL informs them that his contract would reduce the Tomlinson compensation then GWS will instead choose to broker a trade with the Crows for him.
Jacobs will be a Giant as soon as this is sorted out.
They are also waiting on fellow big man Shane Mumford to make a definitive call on whether he extends his comeback into a second season.
The 33-year-old satisfied a contract trigger to remain on the list for 2020 – if he chooses to – and GWS want him to continue, as was expressed to him in last week's exit meeting.
Mumford returned from a one-year absence this past season and played 20 games, including the Grand Final, as well as performing a key role in the dying stages of the preliminary final.
It's believed he is keen to go around again, as a back-up to Jacobs, but wanted some thinking time before committing.
A decision will be made before the end of the Trade Period, just in case GWS needs to bring another ruckman in, but all signs point to Mumford playing on. – Marc McGowan
Pies fire sale?
Collingwood is prepared to offload players before the October 16 deadline for the 2019 player exchange period in the hope of gaining an array of lucrative picks in the national draft.
Already facing a financial nightmare at the end of 2020, when Brodie Grundy, Jordan De Goey, Darcy Moore and captain Scott Pendlebury come out of contract, Mason Cox could be one of the Pies to exit.
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Essendon is showing interest in the 211cm big man, who is best known for his outstanding display in the 2018 preliminary final.
It is the second time in three seasons that Cox has been targeted by a rival – at the end of 2017, Brisbane felt it had secured his services before he backflipped and stayed with Collingwood.
The Pies don't have a selection in the first round of this year's draft, after using it as part of the trade for Dayne Beams from the Lions last year.
As it stands, Collingwood has picks 35, 53, 66 and 71. – Damian Barrett
Blues ponder ruck move
Carlton is considering a move for Hawthorn big man Marc Pittonet, with the club wary that it may have to bolster its ruck depth during the Telstra AFL Trade Period.
Pittonet has been offered a new deal by the Hawks, though is yet to accept, with the Blues understood to be among a number of clubs monitoring his situation as the 202cm youngster weighs up his future.
A potential move for Pittonet could hinge on Andrew Phillips' situation, with the Blues ruckman searching for more long-term security after only being offered a one-year deal to remain at Ikon Park.
Phillips met with Essendon last week, with Carlton at risk of having limited options to support Matthew Kreuzer in the ruck department next season should he depart.
Developing youngster Tom De Koning and utility Levi Casboult – who himself is yet to confirm his future with the club – loom as the Blues' only other ruck options in the event Phillips finds a home elsewhere.
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Pittonet, who is behind Ben McEvoy and Jon Ceglar in the pecking order at Hawthorn, has played just seven games in the past three seasons with the club. However, he has been offered a new deal to remain at the club.
"We're just waiting for him to come back to us, but it's a little bit unusual, I suppose, that he hasn't agreed right now," Hawks footy boss Graham Wright said on Monday.
"But he'd been away (overseas) and just got back last Thursday or Friday, so I'm sure we'll talk with his management in the next few days." – Riley Beveridge
In other news:
- Orazio Fantasia looks set to officially request a trade to Port Adelaide in the coming days, having finally locked in a new manager on Tuesday. The Essendon forward signed with South Australian-based TLA agent Michael Doughty.
- Collingwood spearhead and unrestricted free agent Jamie Elliott turned his back on lucrative and longer-term deals from rival clubs Brisbane and Melbourne, instead signing a two-year extension with Collingwood.
- Scott Selwood has found a home after being delisted by Geelong last week, signing with Collingwood as a development coach for season 2020. He is also likely to line up for its VFL team.
- Sydney has locked in a host of developing young prospects, re-signing five youngsters including Robbie Fox, Hayden McLean, James Bell, Joel Armartey and Michael Knoll on one-year extensions.
