Adam Saad is finally a Carlton player with the Blues and Essendon agreeing on an AFL trade for the dashing defender.
The Bombers will receive Carlton’s prized pick eight as well as a fourth-round selection for Saad, who wanted out after three seasons at Essendon.
Along with the 26-year-old, the Bombers have also packaged up pick 48 and 78 to send to Carlton.
The rivals have been at loggerheads over the former Gold Coast player since he requested a trade to Carlton on October 5.
Saad played 61 games for the Bombers after 48 matches across three years for the Suns.
In other moves on Wednesday, injury-prone Geelong speedster Nakia Cockatoo’s trade to the Brisbane Lions is being settled for a future third-round pick and the Cats’ Lachie Fogarty is off to Carlton.
Meanwhile, Port Adelaide feel they have a responsibility to Essendon’s Orazio Fantasia and will ensure they complete a trade for the wantaway forward.
Fantasia is determined to return to South Australia for the second year in a row but a deal between the Power and the Bombers is still a fair way off with just two days remaining in the trade period.
Port football boss Chris Davies says the club won’t be “walking away” from trading for the 25-year-old if it becomes difficult with Essendon.
“He’s told us he wants to come to Port Adelaide. We’ve got a responsibility to try and get things done, because that’s the type of club we’ve been,” Davies told Trade Radio.
“If a player has said he wants to come then we do our best to work to get him to us, but at the same time there’s a limit and we’re not at that limit right now.”
Despite Fantasia struggling with hamstring and quad injuries during the past three seasons, Port believe he will be able to get his body right again.
“Our medical guys over the last 10 years have had the least number of soft-tissue injuries in the competition,” Davies said.
Port are also looking to recruit versatile Sydney tall Aliir Aliir as the Power aim to build on a preliminary-final appearance this year.
Aliir toured the Power’s Alberton facilities on Monday, but is yet to officially request a trade away from the Swans.
