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Crows play hardball with Cameron
Charlie Cameron's requested move to Brisbane is the most precariously placed of this year's big-name deals ahead of the trade period's final four days.
Essendon and the Western Bulldogs have work to do before Jake Stringer gets to Tullamarine via a trade revolving around the Dons' pick Nos.25 and 30, as do Gold Coast and Geelong before Gary Ablett's return to the Cattery becomes a reality.
But sources close to both deals are confident they will get done, with some rival clubs expecting the end-of-first-round compensation pick (No.19) the Cats – surprisingly – received for free agent Steven Motlop (Port Adelaide) could prove the circuit-breaker in the Ablett talks.
And Gold Coast defender Adam Saad's desired trade to Essendon is close to being finalised for a future second-round pick, either the Bombers' or the GWS pick they acquired in the Devon Smith trade.
But Cameron's future remains up in the air.
No progress over the weekend
The Lions last week offered their second-round pick, No.20 overall, for the Crows speedster, but Adelaide is yet to respond.
Cameron is also understood to have met Crows coach Don Pyke for a second time on Friday to reiterate his reasons for seeking a move to Queensland, where he would be closer to family and friends.
The Crows, however, are yet to show any signs they're prepared to soften their consistent public stance that they will hold Cameron to the last year of his contract.
Their inability to land Geelong free agent Motlop, a proven goalkicker who shaped as a readymade replacement for Cameron, probably only reinforces their position.
What will it take for a Crows' change of heart?
The Crows are in a premiership window so bringing in experienced players who can immediately cover the holes left by Jake Lever and, possibly, Cameron makes more sense than going to the draft.
Adelaide has picks Nos.10 and 16 in this year's draft following Lever's move to Melbourne and would have three picks in the top 20 if it accepted the Lions' Cameron offer.
If the Crows felt one, or possibly two of those picks, would be enough to convince Carlton to part with midfielder Bryce Gibbs, we expect they would soften their stance on Cameron.
But convincing Carlton to let Gibbs go, could be as just hard for the Crows as they've made it for the Lions with Cameron.
Contracted Bombers defender Aaron Francis is another player rival clubs suspect the Crows could target before the end of the trade period, as a possible replacement for Lever.
Young set to rise on Gold Coast
Uncontracted Port Adelaide forward/midfielder Aaron Young appears poised to join Gold Coast, although a deal is unlikely to be finalised until later in the trade period.
After playing 21 games in a breakthrough 2016 season to finish eighth in Port's best and fairest award, Young fell out of favour in the second half of this season, spending most of that time in the SANFL.
He was named as an emergency for Port's elimination final against West Coast, but with Port acquiring Tom Rockliff and Steven Motlop as free agents last week his prospects of senior game time appear far better with the Suns.
Young, 24, has played 76 games and kicked 62 goals for Port since being taken at pick No.36 in the 2010 NAB AFL Draft.
If he leaves, he will join Jackson Trengove (Western Bulldogs), Jarman Impey (Hawthorn) in departing Alberton this player exchange period, with Brendon Ah Chee also seeking a trade to West Coast.
Aaron Young is poised to head to the Gold Coast. Picture: AFL Photos
Watts not ready to announce plans
As of Sunday evening, contracted Melbourne forward Jack Watts had yet to nominate his preferred new club.
Watts' manager, Paul Connors, dismissed reports on Friday his client had chosen Port Adelaide over Geelong.
Nonetheless, Watts is widely expected to join Tom Rockliff and Steve Motlop and request a move to Alberton early this week.
The Power could then start negotiations with Melbourne, with one of its second-round picks, Nos.31 and 34, likely to form the centerpiece of any deal.
Melbourne has said it will hold on to Watts, who is contracted until the end of 2019, failing a satisfactory trade offer, but that scenario appears highly unlikely.
You also need to know
- Fremantle and GWS made no progress in their talks on Nathan Wilson over the weekend. The Dockers have offered a future second-round pick for the contracted Giants rebounder on the condition they get a later pick back from the Giants. GWS believes Wilson is worth a late first-round or early second-round selection.
- Carlton and Greater Western Sydney's talks on Matthew Kennedy also remain deadlocked. The Blues, who do not have a second-round pick in this year's draft, have offered pick No.40 for the Giants midfielder, but are not at this stage prepared to offer their 2018 second-round selection, which would probably seal a trade.
- Any trade for uncontracted Geelong speedster Darcy Lang is likely to be done close to Thursday's 2pm deadline, the Cat's manager, Scott Lucas, told SEN radio on Sunday. Lang is keen to stay in Victoria and has attracted interest from North Melbourne and Carlton, but Lucas says Geelong will make him an offer if he is not traded.
- Clubs are expecting a flurry of pick swaps late in the trade period. While deals involving players require them to consent to a proposed move, straight pick swaps can be done far more quickly. Clubs says pick swaps would already have been agreed to in principle and, provided some of those picks haven't been used in subsequent deals, can be ratified before Thursday's deadline.
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