THE WESTERN Bulldogs remain unwilling to include their top draft selection – No.13 – in any negotiations for potential incoming bookends Josh Bruce and Alex Keath.

Bruce's worth is a polarising discussion, and St Kilda football boss Simon Lethlean told reporters on the opening day of the Telstra AFL Trade Period that pick 32 was not "appropriate" for him.

The problem is the Dogs' sole selection before that is 13, which they believe is too much for the 27-year-old key forward, who's kicked 36 or more goals in four of the past five seasons.

They are also reluctant to part with a future first- or second-round pick, because their Next Generation Academy prospect Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, a tall forward, is a possible top-five choice next year.

THE NEXT BUDDY? Flying teen could solve Dogs' forward woes

A selection between 13 and 32 could help broker the Bruce deal – and aid the Saints' bid for Zak Jones – but requires a third party and a willingness from the Western Bulldogs to slide from or 'split' their No.13.

The Swans want a draft pick in the 20s for Jones, who has long been linked with whatever St Kilda can acquire for Bruce.

Adelaide's Keath doesn't have the same history of performance as Bruce but enjoyed a breakout 2019 season down back and is the same age.

The Dogs think their No.45 pick is about right for Keath, an offer the Crows greeted with the same resistance as St Kilda with Bruce.

Part of that is based on the fact Brisbane last year sent No.32 and a future third-round selection to the Bulldogs for defender Marcus Adams, who is 18 months younger than Keath.

One solution that could be beneficial for all three clubs is for the Dogs to send 13, 32 and 53 to Adelaide for 23, 28 and Keath, a deal that values him just shy of pick 34 on the AFL Draft Value Index.

WHAT PICKS ARE WORTH Your guide to the value of each draft pick

It would be closer to what the Crows want for Keath and they'd suddenly have a second first-round pick to accelerate their rebuild.

The Bulldogs could then present 28 to the Saints for Bruce, and St Kilda could flip that selection to Sydney for Jones.

Alternatively, all four teams could be involved in the one trade – but it all depends on the Western Bulldogs budging.

Blues could up the ante for Martin

Carlton is considering increasing its offer for Gold Coast utility Jack Martin. 

The Suns were firm since Martin requested a trade that they wanted a first-round pick in return for Martin, whereas the Blues' early proposal was a future second-round selection.

Carlton is still not open to parting with a first-round pick, but may sweeten the deal with an extra draft asset on top of the second-round choice.

Martin has played 97 games and doesn't turn 25 until January.

Cameron still Collingwood bound

There won't be an unexpected snag in the Magpies' bid to lure Darcy Cameron from the Swans.

The two clubs have had regular dialogue about the 205cm ruckman throughout the Trade Period and both are keen to finalise a deal before the craziness of deadline day.

There won't be any other players involved in the trade, with a late draft pick – or a hodge-podge of selections – likely to see Cameron join Collingwood to provide support for Brodie Grundy.

The 24-year-old played just one senior game for Sydney in three seasons but was a consistently strong NEAFL performer and showed capability in attack as well.

It's been a quiet exchange period for the Pies, although they had a big win in re-signing free agent Jamie Elliott and could yet get involved in a deal to improve their draft position.

Suspended defender Sam Murray is attracting varying interest from Melbourne, Richmond, Greater Western Sydney and North Melbourne as an option in the delisted free agency period.

The Swans, on the other hand, are trying to land Essendon star Joe Daniher, could trade Tom Papley to Carlton or another Victorian club, and AFL.com.au also linked them to Lion Lewis Taylor.

Brisbane's Lewis Taylor. Picture: AFL Photos

Waiting game for mid-season recruits

Only five of the 13 footballers thrown a lifeline in the NAB AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft remain unsigned.

The draft proved successful, with Josh Deluca (six games), Kyle Dunkley (five), Ryan Gardner (two), Will Snelling (four), Cam Sutcliffe (five), Marlion Pickett (one) and John Noble (five) all featuring at senior level.

Pickett became the first VFL/AFL player since 1952 to make his debut in a Grand Final and subsequently finished third in Norm Smith Medal voting.

They all signed short-term deals for the rest of the season, but eight of them have since re-committed for next year.

Noble, one of Brisbane football boss David Noble's sons, is one of the uncontracted five but played in both of Collingwood's finals and is certain to continue in black and white.

The others without a 2020 deal are Deluca, Gardner, Snelling and Hirst, after Port Adelaide announced Sutcliffe as one of six re-signings on Friday.

However, lightly framed speedster Hirst, who shone in agility testing at last year's Rookie Me Combine, was not one of the Swans' five re-signings on Tuesday.

Fellow Sydney mid-season draftee Michael Knoll, a ruckman, was among them.

Snelling will receive a new deal, but Gardner and Deluca are in a holding pattern.

Carlton's Josh Deluca. Picture: AFL Photos

Gardner's Western Bulldogs (Alex Keath and Josh Bruce) and Deluca's Carlton (Tom Papley and Eddie Betts) are looking to trade in players at their positions.

All 13 mid-season draftees received a minimum $50,000 contract, and they will score another $20,000 if they are not re-signed or another club doesn't recruit them as a delisted free agent.

2019 NAB AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft

FIRST ROUND
CLUB	PLAYER	CONTRACT STATUS
1. Carlton	Josh Deluca	Uncontracted
2. Gold Coast	Mitch Riordan	Re-signed for 2020
3. Melbourne	Kyle Dunkley	Re-signed for 2020
4. Sydney	Michael Knoll	Re-signed for 2020
5. North Melbourne	Lachie Hosie	Re-signed for 2020
6. Western Bulldogs	Ryan Gardner	Uncontracted
7. Essendon	Will Snelling	Uncontracted
8. St Kilda	Jack Mayo	Re-signed for 2020
9. Port Adelaide	Cam Sutcliffe	Re-signed for 2020
10. Hawthorn	Pass	N/A
11. Fremantle	Dillon O'Reilly	Re-signed for 2020
12. Adelaide	Pass	N/A
13. Richmond	Marlion Pickett	Re-signed for 2020
14. Collingwood	John Noble	Uncontracted
SECOND ROUND
15. Gold Coast	Pass	N/A
16. Sydney	Cody Hirst	Uncontracted
17. Western Bulldogs	Pass	N/A
18. Essendon	Pass	N/A

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