The Giants can trade the right to select up to four eligible 17 year olds in what has been dubbed a ‘Mini Draft’, but must have these deals finalised by 5pm on Thursday 13 October 2011.
Trades involving the ‘Mini Draft’ have been hotly contested between clubs who are eagerly vying for the services of gun West Australian teenager Jaeger O’Meara.
According to Trade Week Radio, Fremantle are one club who are keen to get involved in a complicated four-way deal with GWS, Adelaide and Hawthorn involving players, draft picks and the all-important ‘Mini Draft’ selection.
Lions National Talent Manager Rob Kerr said that Fremantle’s potential involvement has slowed the progress on any deals for Clark.
“We’ve really only had the discussions with Fremantle yesterday (Monday),” Kerr told Trade Week Radio on Tuesday.
“But I guess there’s been a bit happening behind the scenes which has tied Fremantle up for the past 24 hours. So we haven’t heard anything further.”
“We’re not really sure what role that trade might play in the Mitch Clark deal.”
“The 17 year-old ‘Mini Draft’ is occupying the minds of a lot of clubs at the moment. I get the impression that a lot of other things are being held up until those trades are resolved.”
Kerr also said that the Lions still held onto a glimmer of hope that Clark would remain at the Club in 2012.
“He’s that type of player that every club would like to have on their list. He can play forward and go in the ruck,” Kerr said.
“Michael Voss has maintained a fair amount of contact with Mitch over the last few weeks. There is no real issue between Mitch and the Club. He has simply expressed a desire to head home. We’ve said to him that we understand his desire, but from our point of view he’s a required player.”
“There was a scenario with Ryan O’Keefe at Sydney a couple of years ago, so you can’t discount that possibility (that he could stay).”
Should either Fremantle or West Coast strike a suitable deal for Clark, the Lions will be left with just one ruckman (Matthew Leuenberger) following the retirement of Jamie Charman and delisting of Bart McCulloch and Broc McCauley.
Kerr said that unfortunate set of circumstances proved a factor in the Lions’ interest in luring Ben Hudson out of retirement.
“If Mitch leaves, it would leave us a little exposed in the ruck area,” Kerr said.
“Jamie Charman retired and we also had a couple of young ruckmen on our rookie list that really didn’t develop as we would have liked.”
