A JOSTLING for second-round picks looms as Melbourne aims to land Fremantle wingman Ed Langdon.

The out-of-contract Docker has met with Essendon and Melbourne as he decides on his future, but has set himself for a move to the Demons.

The Dockers are expected to ask for the Demons' second-round pick (currently No.22) as a swap for the 23-year-old.

But the Demons are tipped to be more prepared to offer their future second-round selection for Langdon as they hope to improve their position next season after a torrid 2019 campaign.

Another consideration is the currency associated with a pick near the start of the second round because of the in-draft trading available to clubs.

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Last year, after the first round was completed on the opening night of the draft, there was a flurry of trades with selections at the beginning of the second round the following day as clubs offered deals to get players who had slipped down the order and were still available.

The first three picks of the second-round last year were traded in between the opening night and the rest of the draft resuming the following day.

The overnight activity led the AFL to change the start time of the second round of the draft for this year to the night to allow clubs more time to sort deals throughout the day rather than the morning rush of last year. 

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It adds another layer of significance to the suite of selections given to the Suns.

The Demons had held the second pick of the second round before Monday's announcement from the AFL that they had given the Suns the opening selection of the second round as part of their assistance package. 

Melbourne's original pick No.2 was also pushed back to No.3 after Gold Coast was granted the No.1 pick.

Langdon, who was drafted from Victoria, played every game for Fremantle this season and averaged 25 disposals in a career-best season.

The Dees have long scouted Langdon and he will have an immediate impact as a hard-running ball-carrier who can complement their midfield mix. – Callum Twomey

NEW CARLTON coach David Teague’s quest to have Eddie Betts in a Blues guernsey has moved closer to fruition.

It is understood the initial reluctance of some at the club to add a 33-year-old (Betts turns 33 in late November) to the playing list has dissipated after a series of meetings, including one with Betts, in the past week.

Betts is contracted to the Crows for 2020, but he does not want to continue his 132-matches-in-six-seasons stint with the club.

Teague was a teammate of Betts at Carlton for three seasons, 2005-07, and has remained close friends with him since. He has aggressively pursued a return to Carlton for Betts, who played 184 matches for the club from 2005 to 2013. – Damian Barrett

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SYDNEY will play hard-ball in any trade negotiations involving contracted forward Tom Papley, who has indicated his desire to move to Carlton during the upcoming Telstra AFL Trade Period.

The lively small forward is under contract with the Swans until the end of 2023, with the Blues aware they will have to pay over the odds in order to prise him back to Victoria next month.

Papley, who is understood to have attracted an offer of around $550,000-650,000 per season from Carlton, chose Ikon Park as his preferred destination despite rival interest from North Melbourne.

He has close friends at the club, including former Swans defenders Nic Newman and Alex Johnson – the latter of which is currently involved with the club's VFL affiliate the Northern Blues.

Carlton has picks No.9, No.41, No.46 and No.73 at the upcoming NAB AFL Draft, while it will also be able to trade its future first-round selection during a significant exchange period for the club.

Gold Coast midfielder Jack Martin has already officially requested a trade to Carlton ahead of the trade period.

Papley, 23, enjoyed a career-best season in 2019, kicking 37 goals from 22 games. – Riley Beveridge

GEELONG'S failure to offer out-of-contract ruckman Zac Smith a new deal has the fringe big man exploring his options for 2020.

As revealed on Telstra Trade Radio, Smith has early interest from Essendon and Gold Coast – the Suns considering welcoming him back four years after trading him to the Cats.

Zac Smith may be aiding, rather than opposing, Tom Bellchambers in the future. Picture: AFL Photos

Smith played 44 games in his first two seasons at the Cats but has been limited to just six matches across the past two seasons, falling behind athletic No.1 ruckman Rhys Stanley.

With the Cats also acquiring mature-age big man Ryan Abbott and forward/ruck Darcy Fort in that period, Smith has lost currency at GMHBA Stadium.

The Suns are looking at its ruck options behind co-captain Jarrod Witts, with the list management team expected to make a call on its interest in Smith in coming days.

No.2 ruck choice Tom Nicholls is out-of-contract, with the Suns' decision on how to use forward Ben King and Peter Wright expected to impact on Smith.

Essendon is looking for added ruck depth after missing out on Paddy Ryder's services.

No.1 ruckman Tom Bellchambers and recently re-signed youngster Sam Draper will carry the load for 2020, with a call yet to be made on whether the Bombers will retain Zac Clarke.

Smith joined the Cats for picks 49 and 53 at the end of 2015.

Hawthorn veteran Grant Birchall will be forced to wait until after Telstra Trade Period to learn his fate at the Hawks.

Birchall has been given the green light by the Hawks to look elsewhere to extend his career into a 15th season.

However, his future could remain at Waverley Park – dependent on what the Hawks acquire over the next three weeks.

The four-time premiership defender is one of several Hawks out-of-contract at season's end including Paul Puopolo and Ryan Schoenmakers.

Birchall had been linked to a move north to Brisbane by former teammate Jordan Lewis last week, the Lions responding on Monday.

"I'd imagine he'd still be a required player for the Hawks, I'm not sure where 'Birch' sits in the overall scheme of things," Lions head of football David Noble told Telstra Trade Radio.

"I think anyone in the space that allows us to improve our run off half-back, through the wing, without specifically trying to comment on Grant, it's the areas we're trying to look at."

The Lions have already given the tick of approval to secure Adelaide free agent Cam Ellis-Yolmen and out-of-contract Gold Coast utility Callum Ah Chee.

Port Adelaide ruckman Billy Frampton has told the club he wishes to be traded in the hope of gaining more opportunities elsewhere. The 22-year-old has managed just three games with the Power, including two this year. Adelaide has shown significant desire in luring him across town, with Fremantle among the other interested parties. 

Delisted Geelong midfielder Scott Selwood's future could lie as a development coach at Collingwood.

Told on Saturday that he wouldn't be offered a contract extension at the Cats for 2020, Selwood is exploring interest from the Pies.

Should he not receive any AFL opportunities, the 29-year-old could join the Pies in a development coaching role with the option to play for the club's VFL line-up next season.



It would be a similar position to one former Hawthorn player Brendan Whitecross assumed at North Melbourne this season after his time was called at Waverley Park.

Selwood has recently completed the AFLPA 'Next Coach' program, following in the footsteps of previous graduates in senior coaches Adam Simpson and Simon Goodwin.

The brother of Geelong captain Joel and former midfielders Adam and Troy, Scott played 34 games for the Cats from 2016-2019 after crossing from West Coast as a restricted free agent.– Mitch Cleary

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