The three big trade talks involving GWS appear set to fizzle out with Bobby Hill unlikely to leave and Rory Lobb and Chad Wingard almost certainly not joining the AFL club.
Hill, who has a year to run on his GWS contract, is keen to join a Victorian-based club, with Essendon his preference.
Collingwood have also emerged as a suitor, but GWS general manager of football Jason McCartney has poured cold water on the prospect of a trade happening.
“Bobby and I have spoken and I’ve said it’s highly unlikely to happen and he’d be welcome back at the club with no issues or concerns,” McCartney told afl.com.au.
Lobb’s bid to rejoin the Giants rested heavily on Hill’s departure, given it would free up the salary cap needed to sign the Fremantle ruck-forward.
But even while talks were heating up about Hill leaving, the Lobb deal fell through after GWS weren’t able to come up with an adequate trade to satisfy Fremantle.
Lobb’s manager Colin Young emailed both Fremantle and GWS on Sunday night saying the deal was off.
Hill is still a chance to leave GWS, but Essendon or Collingwood would have to come up with an attractive offer for it to happen.
The 21-year-old is rated as a future star within GWS, and they are reluctant to let him go given their lack of depth on the small forward front.
Trade talk went into a spin on Monday when it was revealed that GWS were considering launching a deal for contracted Hawthorn star Chad Wingard if they needed to replace Hill.
But Wingard used a series of not-so-subtle social media posts to make it crystal clear he wouldn’t be leaving Hawthorn.
Meanwhile, Fremantle and Geelong are still locked in talks about contracted Cats wingman Jordan Clark.
Clark has been left frustrated by his lack of opportunity over the past two years at the Cats, and is eager to join Fremantle.
The Dockers are willing to give up pick No.22 to get the deal done, but the Cats are keen on pick No.19.
Pick No.19 holds a special value because it will be the first on the second night of the two-night draft.
It means Fremantle can analyse the remaining options overnight before taking the pick of the remaining crop.
There’s a strong chance that a rival club will offer an attractive trade for the pick if someone they value highly went undrafted in the first round.
Adelaide are still locked in tense negotiations in its bid to join Swans rising star Jordan Dawson, while Port Adelaide big man Peter Ladhams is keen to join Sydney.
AAP
Get all the latest Canberra news, sport, entertainment, lifestyle, competitions and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Canberra Daily Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.
