Trade wrap: Gibbs the key to Cameron deal

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Gibbs talks to determine Cameron's fate

Unless Adelaide is able to convert its recently acquired bounty of draft picks into a readymade player or players, Charlie Cameron's requested trade to the Brisbane Lions appears doomed.

The Crows' list management team has no interest in accumulating a third top-20 draft pick by trading Cameron. Their focus, instead, is on bringing in experienced players who can help Don Pyke and his team next season, when they will be hell bent on avenging their 2017 Grand Final loss.

Hawks small forward Paul Puopolo and Bombers defender Aaron Francis are among the players linked to Adelaide, but its No.1 target is unmistakably Carlton midfielder Bryce Gibbs.

After dancing around the Gibbs issue for much of the Trade Period, the Crows are understood to be in talks with the Blues, trying to convince them to change their rigid stance on holding the South Australian to the final two years of his contract.

What do the Crows have to throw at the Blues?

The Crows have picks Nos.10 and 16 in this year's draft and have been offered pick No.20 by the Lions for Cameron, although they could push for pick No.12.

They also have two first-round picks in next year's draft – theirs and Melbourne's – although the likely presence of star South Australian juniors Jack Lukosius, Izak Rankine and Connor Rozee in the 2018 pool means the Crows have probably made those selections untouchable.

The Blues asked for two first-round selections for Gibbs last year, a demand the Crows baulked at.

Will they be prepared to go that far, if necessary, this year?

Lions on hold

In the meantime, all the Lions can do is wait.

They have had no meaningful talks with Adelaide over Cameron since offering pick No.20.

And if the Blues don't budge on Gibbs, the Crows almost certainly won't budge on Cameron.

The Lions' pursuit of the Crows speedster would then have to wait until he comes out of contract at the end of 2018.

Charlie Cameron wants out of his Crows deal. Picture: AFL Photos

Dockers clear on Weller price

Fremantle is holding firm on its demand for pick No.2 in any deal for Lachie Weller and will keep the 21-year-old to his contract if Gold Coast won't part with its prized selection.

Weller's request for a move to the Suns was the surprise of the Trade Period on Monday, catching Fremantle by surprise at a time when it was attempting to re-contract the half-back for four years beyond his 2018 deal.

The Suns have given Weller and his management a guarantee that a trade will be done, and there is confidence on that side of the fence that Weller will be a Gold Coast player in 2018.

For that to be achieved, pick No.2 will need to be put on the table with the Dockers unrelenting in their position less than two days out from Thursday's 2pm AEDT deadline.

It is understood the Dockers wouldn't contemplate a later first-round pick for Weller, and they assign no value to a swap of picks No.2 and No.5.

Why the Dockers' position is reasonable

Weller is rated as Freo's best kick, and among the quickest and strongest players at the club. The Dockers had planned to unleash him in the midfield in 2018.
His three years of development into a reliable half-back in his third year should be factored into the deal.
The Dockers believe Weller would be a professional if held to the final year of his contract, and a trade would be done in 12 months.

Gold Coast finds itself in a rare position of having a quality young player requesting to join their club, and he would match-up well against any of the top five prospects in this year's draft.

It is up to the Suns to force Fremantle's hand, and the only way to do that is to trade pick No.2.

Wantaway Docker Lachie Weller is rated as the club's best kick. Picture: AFL Photos

Bulldogs' pick chase continues

The clock is ticking for the Western Bulldogs as they furiously chase a solution to the Jake Stringer stalemate.

Rather than accepting Essendon's final offer of picks No.25 and No.30 and then dealing with clubs, the Bulldogs are seeing what they could turn those picks into before pulling the trigger.

West Coast has presented as the most likely third party with its pick No.13, but a deal that tempted the Eagles was yet to present itself on Tuesday evening.

They are keen to secure more picks in this year's draft, with a current hand of No.13, No.32 and No.50 in the first three rounds, but would be reluctant to sacrifice their presence in the first round.

Still, the Eagles hold the whip hand in negotiations, given the Bulldogs apparent desperation to get a first-round return for the loss of Stringer, who has said he will not return to the club in 2018.

Essendon is not searching for a third-party solution, having put its two second-round picks on the table as a final offer.

Will Jake Stringer finally get out of the doghouse? Picture: AFL Photos

Roos' list overhaul set to continue

North Melbourne embarked on an aggressive rebuild when it delisted veterans Brent Harvey, Drew Petrie, Michael Firrito and Nick Dal Santo at the end of last season, a process that was accelerated when Daniel Wells opted to join Collingwood as a free agent.

North has continued down the same path this year, with Sam Gibson, 31, and Lachlan Hansen, 29, among its delistings to date.

The likelihood contracted veterans Andrew Swallow, 30, and Lindsay Thomas, 29, will follow them out the door at Arden Street grows stronger by the day.

Gold Coast has some interest in Swallow, but might not be in a position to do anything this Trade Period as it scrambles to complete the proposed Gary Ablett and Lachie Weller deals.

Thomas, on the other hand, has attracted little attention from rival clubs.

What happens if the veterans aren't traded?

Swallow and Thomas are contracted for 2018 but both fell out of favour this season and do not appear part of North's future plans.

It's understood both could be delisted at the end of the Trade Period if they don't find new homes. Swallow could then be picked up by the Suns as a delisted free agent, although Thomas' career would almost certainly be at an end.

Roos veterans Andrew Swallow (right) and Lindsay Thomas could be out the door. Picture: AFL Photos

Port clinches trifecta

Port Adelaide capped an extremely successful 2017 player exchange period when it acquired Jack Watts from Melbourne in exchange for pick No.31.

With Tom Rockliff and Steven Motlop crossing to Alberton as free agents last week, Port picked up the former Brisbane Lions skipper, Geelong speedster and Watts for that solitary draft pick. On any measure, that's a remarkable return.

Port has also waved goodbye to Jackson Trengove (Western Bulldogs), Jarman Impey (Hawthorn) and Brendon Ah Chee (West Coast) over the past two weeks.

But, on paper, a list that finished the 2017 home and away season in fifth spot now appears far better placed to be contend next season.

What else you need to know...

Sydney confirmed Collingwood's interest in young defender Sam Murray on Tuesday, with the two clubs in discussions over a trade. Murray is a category B rookie, but the Swans said they will be willing to offer him a senior list contract. "That being the case he can't just walk out to a club of his choice, he's not a free agent in that sense," football manager Tom Harley told SEN. "We're in discussions but a deal hasn't been done at this stage."

Fremantle midfielder Harley Balic is expected to become a Melbourne player on Wednesday in exchange for a late draft pick. All parties are keen to secure the deal before the final day of trading.

The chances of homesick Brisbane Lions spearhead Josh Schache being traded home to Victoria now seem slim, with the Western Bulldogs unlikely to pursue their interest in 2015's No.2 draft pick.

Carlton is leading the race for uncontracted Geelong midfielder Darcy Lang from Gold Coast. The Suns are keen to include Lang in the proposed Gary Ablett trade, but the Victorian would prefer to remain in his home state. North Melbourne has also made an offer to Lang.

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