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ESSENDON has rejected Port Adelaide's opening offer of a first-round draft selection in exchange for disgruntled ruckman Paddy Ryder.
The Power offered pick No.16 for Ryder, who has nominated Port as his preferred new home, but the Dons have knocked back the deal.
Speaking on SEN radio on Friday, Port's list manager Jason Cripps said a resolution could be some way off.
"There's every chance it will be drawn out. He's obviously contracted and we're very respectful and mindful of that being the case," Cripps said.
"We've had some discussions with Essendon. We'll continue to do so to hopefully broker a deal that's fair for all parties.
"(Port coach) Kenny (Hinkley) put our first pick on the table last week on radio, so that's certainly the case.
"At this stage they've knocked that back and we'll continue to work through with them in terms of what they're actually hoping to get."
Cripps said the Power and Dons might need to get a third club involved to flesh out a deal when the trade period starts on Monday.
"We work together and find out what they are hoping to achieve in terms of improving their list," Cripps said.
"Again, hopefully we're able to facilitate that and if we're unable to, that's obviously (where) the involvement of other clubs can certainly help in the process."
Securing Ryder – and potentially Gold Coast's Daniel Gorringe – would deepen the Power's ruck stocks, one of its perceived weaknesses.
Matthew Lobbe carried the load admirably in 2014 as the Power fell three points short of playing in the Grand Final.
"We lost a preliminary final by three points, so at the end of the day we weren't good enough," Cripps said.
"We've identified areas with our list in terms of short-term and long-term in terms of what we need to do.
"And we think that someone like Paddy Ryder, what he can do for us certainly in the short-term – he's 26, turning 27 in March, so we're mindful of that in terms of the compensation - but we certainly think that he's going to be able to add to our list and hopefully improve our side."
The NAB AFL Trade Period kicks-off Monday, October 6 and concludes Thursday, October 16.
