The tense stand-off between Sydney and Essendon over Joe Daniher will come to a head at Marvel Stadium on Wednesday when the AFL trade period comes to a close.
Representatives from all clubs will convene in Melbourne to thrash out deals ahead of the 7.30pm AEDT deadline, with Daniher’s future to be decided along with the likes of Fremantle’s Bradley Hill, Adelaide pair Alex Keath and Josh Jenkins and Gold Coast’s Jack Martin.
The Bombers are unimpressed with the offer of picks five and 25 from Sydney and maintain they will hold Daniher to the final year of his contract despite his publicly-stated desire to rejuvenate his career with the Swans.
The Dockers have been intent on securing two first-round picks for three-time premiership winger Hill, but the Saints aren’t willing to part with their 2020 first-rounder as well as their first call at this draft.
St Kilda could ship midfielder Blake Acres to Fremantle as part of the deal, with Sydney’s Zak Jones and Richmond’s Dan Butler also on their radar on deadline day.
Keath’s move to the Western Bulldogs and finding a home for Jenkins remain on the Crows’ agenda after they shipped Hugh Greenwood to Gold Coast and Sam Jacobs to GWS on Tuesday, the same day Matthew Nicks was announced as their new coach.
Carlton are still working on securing Jack Martin from the Suns and Tom Papley from Sydney.
The Blues have offered a future second-round pick for Martin but Gold Coast require a first-rounder for his services.
The Dogs are looking to add Josh Bruce from St Kilda but are yet to agree to terms, with Jack Steven’s move to Geelong also up in the air.
James Aish appears headed to Fremantle, with the winger undergoing a medical at the WA club, as Collingwood looks to clear salary cap space to sign Brodie Grundy, Jordan De Goey and Scott Pendlebury to new deals next year.
A pedestrian trade period kicked into gear on Tuesday when Dougal Howard and Paddy Ryder switched from Port Adelaide to St Kilda, GWS sent Jon Patton to Hawthorn, the Magpies brought in back-up ruckman Darcy Cameron from Sydney and the Crows lured ruckman Billy Frampton from the Power.