News 2017 Trade News Compendium

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Cameron camp shuts down potential WA trade (Lee Gaskin, AFL.com.au, 12/10)

CHARLIE Cameron's manager has emphatically shot down a suggestion from Adelaide list manager Justin Reid that the exciting Crow could be traded to a Western Australian club.

In an interview on Adelaide radio station FIVEaa on Thursday afternoon, Reid insinuated Cameron's family ties in Perth meant it wasn't cut and dry a deal would be done with the Brisbane Lions.

"Brisbane have had some dialogue with ourselves and he's obviously got his mum and dad and brother living in Perth, so there's certainly been some strong interest from other clubs as well," Reid said.

"He has requested (to go to the Lions) and he has some family and he went to boarding school in Brisbane, (but) obviously he's got some strong connections in Perth as well.

"The quality player Charlie is, those clubs would be seeking ourselves out and having a conversation as well."

But Cameron's manager Colin Young told AFL.com.au there was only one place his client wanted to go next year.

"Charlie, Charlie's family and his management company were all in agreeance that the Brisbane Lions were the best place for Charlie, both on and off the field," Young said.

"At no stage have Fremantle discussed Charlie Cameron.

"West Coast discussed Charlie Cameron in March.

"However, Charlie is committed to going and playing in Brisbane in 2018 and will not be entertaining any other club offers.

"Yes, we have had offers from many clubs, probably eight in total.

"However, Charlie is absolutely determined to play with Brisbane in 2018."

Cameron is contracted with the Crows for 2018, but has requested a trade to the Lions for compassionate reasons.

The Crows were adamant at the start of the trade period that Cameron would see out the remainder of his contract.

The club's stance appears now to have softened with less than a week to go in the trade period.

"Speaking to Charlie and his management, we're certainly clear on his situation and they are very aware of the club's position," Reid said.

"He's contracted and he signed off on that contract, but we certainly understand his position and we'll work through that as the trade period unfolds."

If a deal cannot be worked out, Cameron is committed to seeing out the final year of his contract with the Crows before again attempting to join the Lions in 2019.

"Charlie has indicated that to the football management department of the Crows that he understands he has a contract in 2018," Young said.

"However, he's not too sure, based on this year's performances, how he will travel next year knowing that he's playing with a club that he doesn't want to play with."

 

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Port Adelaide releases contracted forward Jarman Impey to Hawthorn (Michelangelo Rucci, The Advertiser, 12/10)

Contracted ruckman Matthew Lobbe is again being linked to a trade to a Queensland-based AFL club, Brisbane or Gold Coast.

 

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Sam McClure: Pick 39 not getting it done for Carlton to get Matt Kennedy. Brisbane trying to hijack trade.

 

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Interstate club swoops into Kennedy chase: McClure (SEN, 13/10)

SEN news breaker Sam McClure has revealed a second club has dramatically entered the chase for Greater Western Sydney midfielder Matthew Kennedy.

Despite nominating Carlton as his preferred club, McClure is reporting the Blues’ lowball offer for Kennedy has led to the Brisbane Lions becoming an option for the midfielder.

“Carlton have always maintained the deal will get done and they have been very comfortable with it because he has nominated,” he told SEN Breakfast.

“Enter the Brisbane Lions, who have just lost Tom Rockliff and are looking to add midfield depth. They are loaded with early draft picks, including pick 19. My understanding is the Brisbane Lions have sneaked in and potentially hijacked this trade.

“He wants to go to Carlton and that makes the trade to Brisbane more difficult, however, surely Carlton will have to find something better than pick 39 to get that deal done.

“The Blues have been adamant that pick 39 will get it done, but the Giants have been saying hang on, this kid was pick 13 two years ago, he went the pick after Charlie Curnow, in-between him and Eric Hipwood. He isn’t going for pick 39.”

Kennedy is out of contract, and the Lions have the first pick in preseason draft, meaning Brisbane could select him there for nothing, if no trade is agreed upon.

The 20-year-old has played 19 games in two seasons with the Giants after coming through the club's academy.

 

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Midfield, not Schache, the focus for Roos (Lee Gaskin, AFL.com.au)

NORTH Melbourne has ruled itself out of making a play for Brisbane Lions key forward Josh Schache.

The second overall pick of the 2015 NAB AFL Draft has attracted minimal interest from Victorian clubs during the Trade Period.

North Melbourne's general manager of football Cam Joyce said the club's priority was improving its midfield with its first two picks in the draft – currently No.4 and 22.

"We really like his talent and we liked him in his draft year," Joyce said of Schache on NAB AFL Trade Radio on Friday.

"For us, we're focusing on the midfield.

"We haven't inquired about Josh and we are probably going to look to spend our pennies elsewhere."

Schache is contracted to the Lions until the end of 2019, but the club is open to letting him go and returning to Victoria.

 

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Port won't stop contracted ruck from leaving (Sarah Black, AFL.com.au, 13/10)

PORT Adelaide will not stand in the way of contracted ruckman Matthew Lobbe, who is seeking more game time at another club.

The 28-year-old has played just 25 games in the past three years and none in 2017 as All Australian ruckman Paddy Ryder moved ahead of him in the pecking order.

There have been reports the Victorian has met with Gold Coast and Brisbane Lions as he seeks a new footballing home.

Power's general manager of football Chris Davies said the club would be comfortable with Lobbe leaving despite still having two years to run on his contract.

"I haven't had any updates on 'Lobes' [yet]," Davies said on NAB AFL Trade Radio on Friday morning.

"I think at this point, Matthew has expressed a want to look at what his options are … we're happy for him to explore those options.

"If there's sufficient interest, then I'm sure something will get done there. In the short term, it's more about Matthew ascertaining if there's a club that's actually interested in him going to them."

Losing Lobbe would thin Port Adelaide's ruck stocks even further after the versatile Jackson Trengove's move to Western Bulldogs as a restricted free agent.

 

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McDougall on Cameron: He's really struggled living in Adelaide this year, he's got his heart set on moving back to QLD. #NABTradeRadio

McDougall on Cameron: It's just the Lions for Charlie (nothing from GC)

McDougall on Cameron: It's not really about the term (of deal), it's about being with family (in Brisbane). #NABTradeRadio

McDougall on Cameron deal: They've (Lions) put a first round offer (to Adelaide). We think it's strong for a former rookie #NABTradeRadio

 

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McDougall: I can tell you that Brisbane has offered the Crows pick 19 for Charlie Cameron

 

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The mystery of Josh Schache's slide – and how the Brisbane Lions point the finger at Richmond (Caroline Wilson, The Age, 13/10)

Just how Josh Schache went from being close to the hottest football prospect in the county to a footballer not one club has yet been prepared to entertain a trade for remains the most intriguing story of the AFL's player market period.

Even though the Jake Stringer stand-off is extraordinary, there is a far more simple explanation behind the relative lack of interest in the 23-year-old who was the Western Bulldogs' best forward. And one the Bulldogs must understand was largely of their own making in terms of trade value. They contributed to his current standing as damaged goods.

Why the 2016 premiers would insist on a first-round draft pick after coach Luke Beveridge suggested flaws of character, personal standards and commitment and said Stringer's departure was in the best interests of the team remains unfathomable.

Added to that the unsavoury and damning assessment delivered on the eve of the grand final by Stringer's former partner and mother of his two children, which included accusations of a string of paramours including a 17-year-old fan and a gambling addiction, you'd have to wonder why Stringer's club tried to stand firm over pick No.11.

Schache is just 20 and two years ago was taken by the Lions with pick two in the national draft – a Murray Bushranger whom the Brisbane Lions insist showed no signs of becoming a "go-homer". Now the club has been struggling to raise interest in the big key forward for even a second-round pick.

Surely that will change. Our view is the club will achieve a trade and the tyre-kicking from Victorian clubs will resume in earnest over the weekend. And put an end to the unhappy saga that has damaged the images of both club and player and transformed the homesick boy from Seymour into something of a political football.

Schache has become the subject of a spat between Brisbane and Richmond that erupted in recent weeks when the Lions new list manager Dom Ambrogio accused his Tigers' counterpart Blair Hartley of distracting the already troubled young player during his second season at the Gabba.

The Brisbane view was that Richmond wooed Schache and in doing so contributed to his poor form and reduced commitment. This version also dictates that former Lions coach Justin Leppitsch stayed in touch with the player once he rejoined the Tigers as an assistant coach.

Further there was an allegation that Richmond subsequently lowered Schache's trade stocks by passing on stories alluding to his fragility involving a first-hand experience after the Tigers interviewed him.

Richmond, in turn, angrily deny all of the above. The Tigers claim that while they interviewed Schache they lost serious interest in the player as an immediate prospect once he re-signed with the Lions. When Schache was offered around again, say the Tigers, their situation had changed. Nor were they prepared to consider the estimated minimum price tag, which, in a best-case scenario, would involve something with a three in front of it.

Richmond say Brisbane have only themselves to blame. That the club failed to adequately care for Schache's welfare in his first season and did not put enough thought into his living circumstances. Even the Lions would privately admit Schache was physically exhausted at the end of 2016 and he should have been managed more conservatively in a playing sense. Still back in year one he showed signs of being the dominant forward his No.2 draft placing suggested he would become.

Either way Schache was clearly unhappy at Brisbane by the late autumn of 2017 and his form mirrored that. There were still signs – an early competitive effort against Steven May being one – but Schache looked to join the line of early draft picks wanting out. No one was more surprised than the Lions football department when he re-signed.

Football can be a fickle game. Not only are small forwards all the rage but clubs are shying away from the bigger variety – ones who take significant time to develop. It's hard to imagine Tom Boyd earning the wage and the heavy selling price that came with his move to the Bulldogs had GWS attempted to trade him now.

And in another premiership victory heavily punctuated by pressure and intensity comes further devaluing of players seen as less competitive.

You only had to listen to Simon Goodwin's speech at the Melbourne best and fairest to understand why Jack Watts was on the way out.

Now Schache has become a public relations problem for Brisbane and the club must trade him. Just as Luke Hodge's weird decision to play again up north is a major marketing victory for the Lions as they work to attract the nation's best talent, Schache presents as a warning reminder of the opposite, of a time hopefully past when Brisbane was a poor football club.

Like the high-maintenance Stringer and the Bulldogs; Ambrogio, Chris Fagan and football boss David Noble must cut their losses and move the 20-year-old on. Like with Stringer, there's no going back now and a new jumper presents as his football salvation.

 

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Trade wrap: Watts call close as Port circles (Nick Bowen and Nathan Schmook, AFL.com.au, 13/10)

The Brisbane Lions have put the ball back in Adelaide's court by offering pick No.19 for Charlie Cameron.

A deal in the second week of the Trade Period is starting to look possible, despite the Crows' initial hardline stance.

Since Monday, when list manager Justin Reid said Cameron was a "contracted and required player", dialogue between the clubs has remained open.

It is not clear if the Crows have made a counter-offer at this stage but it is likely they will come for the Lions' pick No.12.

"Brisbane have offered up pick No.19 at this stage, so they're working through it with Adelaide," Cameron's manager Andrew McDougall told NAB AFL Trade Radio on Friday.

"Brisbane have shown strong interest, that's been indicated, and they've had discussions with Adelaide."

By keeping the Cameron conversation open with the Lions – and even floating possible interest from WA clubs – the Crows appear to have kept their mind open to a trade.

 

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Steven Motlop nominates Port Adelaide as preferred club (Jon Pierik, Michael Gleeson and Peter Ryan, The Age, 13/10)

The decision by Motlop to choose the Power over a slightly superior financial offer from Adelaide is expected to impact the Crows' thinking on a trade, allowing Charlie Cameron to join Brisbane. The contracted small forward had asked for a trade for family reasons.

The Lions have pick 19 in the national draft – compensation for Rockliff joining the Power – and that could still form part of an offer to the Crows. But Adelaide's decision to trade or not to trade is likely to be influenced by Motlop's decision.

The Power are also open to ruckman Matthew Lobbe moving clubs despite having two years remaining on his contract.

Lobbe, denied opportunity because of Patrick Ryder's emergence as a dominant ruckman, has managed only 25 matches in the past three years.

Lobbe met the Suns and Brisbane Lions in Melbourne on Friday.

Power football-department chief Chris Davies said the club would work with Lobbe to help him find greater opportunity elsewhere.

 

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Crows should cash in on Cameron: Rucci (SEN, 13/10)

Adelaide would be better off accepting a first round draft pick from Brisbane for Charlie Cameron, instead losing him for next to nothing next year, according to Michelangelo Rucci.

The 23-year-old’s representatives today confirmed the Lions had offered pick 19 in exchange for the contracted, want away forward, who has kicked 87 goals in his 73 games for the Crows.

“Critically Adelaide’s got to make this decision, and they’ve failed on this one before, particularly with some classic ones in the past five years,” Rucci said on SEN’s The Run Home.

“They might just have to accept it, bite the bullet and get something for Charlie Cameron this year, when it’s a pretty strong message coming from Colin Young (Cameron’s manager).

“Colin Young doesn’t mess around as a player agent. When he’s saying Charlie Cameron would not be there in 2019, and there’s very little value that Adelaide can get for him as an uncontracted player could easily walk to Brisbane through the draft process.”

The Adelaide Advertiser chief football writer believes the circuit breaker could be an exchange of future first round selections in next year’s draft, in order to rise up the order and pick up some highly trumpeted South Australian talent.

“They’ve got to start looking at pushing Brisbane in for one of those first round draft picks that the Lions have got, and then using that,” Rucci said.

“Adelaide are so keen to get into the draft early next year when there’s a bit of talent on the South Australian landscape that they would love to keep.

“If it includes a swap of next year’s first round draft picks, which gets Adelaide earlier into the first round next year I think the deal gets done very quickly.”

 

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Brisbane Lions expect trade talks for Josh Schache to heat up as deadline approaches (AAP, news.com.au, 14/10)

WHY doesn’t anyone want Josh Schache? After a week of little interest to kick off the trade period, the Brisbane Lions expect that to change as the trade deadline approaches.

BRISBANE expects the market for Josh Schache to heat up in the second week of the AFL trade period.

The Lions dropped a bombshell on the opening day of the trade period when they said they would be open to moving the Victorian forward on.

But the lack of interest from Melbourne clubs in the former No. 2 pick has been one of the more bemusing storylines of this year’s trade window. No offers have been forthcoming with some clubs — like Collingwood and North Melbourne — openly stating they’re not interested.

Lions football chief David Noble is adamant his club will be happy to hang onto Schache if nothing emerges but he is expecting movement on that front next week.

“Josh’s discussions will pick up ... trade period always seems to unfold once the bigger (trades) have landed,” Noble told RSN radio.

“Then clubs know what picks they’ve got and the value of the market is established.

“We’re not surprised that everyone has been jumping off so to speak, but if something can happen that’s great and if not we’re happy to keep Josh.”

 

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Media Watch: The ‘cheap’ replacement option for Charlie Cameron, Swans midfielder requests trade (Fox Sports, 14/10)

JOSH Schache’s desired move to Victoria is in a “precarious” spot according to Jake Niall.

The 2015 Pick 2 is homesick, with Brisbane willing to trade the forward for the right price.

But a combination of factors has seen few suitors appear for Schache, despite several clubs seemingly in need of a forward — particularly one with the promise of the Seymour product.

Asked whether he thinks Schache will be at a new home or surprisingly still in Brisbane in 2018, Niall said he would have to “sit on the fence”.

“There is still not a lot happening,” he said on AFL Tonight.

“One hope for Schache’s prospects was that some clubs were holding on to see what draft picks they had before they made a bid.

“It is remarkable that a player who was Pick 2 in the draft, who has clearly got talent, has yet to get a significant bid from a Victorian club.

“To me it’s almost the biggest surprise, if you look at what normally happens, you’d think there’d be half a dozen clubs.”

PORT Adelaide’s Matthew Lobbe has met with officials from both Brisbane and Gold Coast, reports The Herald Sun.

The ruckman looks set to be traded to Queensland with the Power willing to pay a portion of Lobbe’s contract to get the move done. Lobbe is on close to $500,000 a season over the next two years.

Lobbe fell behind All-Australian ruckman Paddy Ryder in the ruck pecking order at the Power in 2017, not playing a senior game. He has played just 25 matches since signing a five-year contract extension in 2014, partially due to injuries.

The 27-year-old is one of a number of out-of-favour ruckmen receiving interest from needy clubs with Western Bulldog Tom Campbell, Melbourne’s Jake Spencer and Fremantle’s Zac Clarke also on the market.

Brisbane will likely keep Stefan Martin, who they say is a required player, but have little ruck depth behind him with Archie Smith and The Recruit TV show winner Matt Eagles the main options.

The Western Bulldogs were interested in trading for Lobbe at the end of the 2015 season, with a first-round draft pick on offer, but were unable to get that deal done.

 

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AFL trade period: Western Bulldogs, manager at loggerheads over Jake Stringer (Jon Pierik, The Age, 14/10)

The manager of Brisbane Lion Josh Schache remains hopeful the Victorian will be able to head home by the trade deadline. The former No.2 draft pick has been at the centre of a reported spat between the Lions and Richmond. The Lions have claimed the Tigers, while seeking to secure Schache through the year, contributed to his poor form, a claim the Tigers deny.

His manager David Trotter said he had no problems with how the clubs had conducted themselves but hoped Schache, who has suffered from homesickness, could return to Victoria.

"Obviously, his preference is to come home but, as he's contracted, if nothing happens he will head back up there," Trotter said.

 

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Trade wrap: Charlie deal on a knife's edge (Nick Bowen, AFL.com.au, 15/10)

The Lions last week offered their second-round pick, No.20 overall, for the Crows speedster, but Adelaide is yet to respond.

Cameron is also understood to have met Crows coach Don Pyke for a second time on Friday to reiterate his reasons for seeking a move to Queensland, where he would be closer to family and friends.

The Crows, however, are yet to show any signs they're prepared to soften their consistent public stance that they will hold Cameron to the last year of his contract.

Their inability to land Geelong free agent Motlop, a proven goalkicker who shaped as a readymade replacement for Cameron, probably only reinforces their position.

 

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Steven Motlop pick deals Geelong a stronger hand for trades (Michael Gleeson, The Age, 15/10)

Adelaide and Brisbane will discuss a trade of Charlie Cameron to the Lions. Cameron, who is contracted, wants to go for family reasons.

Port's Matthew Lobbe met with Gold Coast and Brisbane officials on Friday but neither club has committed to trying to attract him yet.

Hawthorn will do a deal this week for Luke Hodge to join the Brisbane Lions. The Hawk have an interest in key forward Josh Schache but have no draft picks or players to be able to get that deal done.

There is a possibility they could seek to add to the Hodge deal to try to get Schache to the club but no arrangement has been put to Brisbane about this.

 

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.@craighutchy on Charlie Cameron: Can you give us an update?

@Adelaide_FC Justin Reid: He's a contracted player

Reid on Cameron: Bris are pretty clear where we sit. Unless we get something thru door, it's very unlikely he'll be anywhere other than Adel

Reid on Cameron: Pick 12 doesn't have 70 games behind him next year, pick 12 isn't going to help me next year.

Reid on Cameron: You consider all options but at the end of the day, he's a contracted player. Charlie will help us next year

 

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Trade talk: Hodge and Hartung (hawthornfc.com.au, 16/10)

It is still unclear how Luke Hodge will make his way to the Lions, with the two clubs yet to reach an agreement midway through the trade period.

“The Lions are going to come back to us later in the week, so probably Wednesday or Thursday,” List and Recruiting Manager Graham Wright said on Monday afternoon.

“We’re hopeful of having something done during that time.”

Wright says the delay isn’t a matter of either party playing hardball, but rather a waiting game to see how other trades play out.

“I think there’s goodwill on both sides to try and get something done so we’re waiting to see what that is.”

If a deal doesn’t get completed before the 2pm cut off on Thursday, Hodge will need to nominate for the 2018 pre-season draft, for which the Lions hold Pick 1, in order to find his way north.

 

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Josh Schache will play for Brisbane if trade to Melbourne-based team can’t be struck (Jay Clark, Herald Sun, 16/10)

BRISBANE forward Josh Schache has reassured the Lions he will return to play for them next season if a trade to a Melbourne-based team can’t be struck.

Schache’s hopes of moving home to Victoria hinge on Richmond reviving the long-held interest in him or 11th-hour bids from Carlton, Hawthorn or Western Bulldogs.

The Lions remain hopeful a deal will still be completed, but they may have to accept a late first-round or second-round pick in return for the second-year goalkicker.

Schache, 20, spoke with Lions’ coach Chris Fagan late last week to discuss the possibility of returning to the Gabba next season.

Schache’s manager, David Trotter, said there was no ill-feeling towards Brisbane and that his client would certainly honour his contract.

“All parties are working hard on getting a deal done and certainly Josh is very hopeful of playing in Melbourne next year,” Trotter said.

“If that doesn’t happen he will be happy to see out his contract in Brisbane next year.”

The former No.2 draft pick is the 14th AFL player to request a move interstate to be closer to family in this year’s trade period.

Carlton is believed to be considering the impact Schache’s arrival would have on the senior prospects of key forward Harry McKay next season.

The Blues also do not have a second-round pick to trade to Brisbane in return for Schache unless they move on star midfielder Bryce Gibbs.

The Dogs could also swoop to help replace veteran forward Travis Cloke but their priority is to solve the Jake Stringer deal.

Sources said the Crows’ hopes of securing Gibbs were still alive with the Blues still looking for another draft pick to trade to Greater Western Sydney in return for midfielder Matthew Kennedy.

The Tigers were the most keen on Schache throughout the season but their interest cooled significantly, in-line with Schache’s form, in the second half of the year.

Richmond is now adamant it will take its two first-round picks to the national draft, in part, to claim father-son midfielder Patrick Naish.

Collingwood, Essendon, St Kilda and North Melbourne have all ruled themselves out of the race for the Seymour product.

 

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Fremantle Dockers want pick two for Lachie Weller, Western Bulldogs discussing Josh Schache (Michael Gleeson, The Age, 16/10)

Meanwhile the Western Bulldogs have emerged with interest in Lions forward Josh Schache.

The Dogs are understood to be looking into the forward and weighing up whether to push ahead in discussing a trade after making further contact with the Lions late last week.

The Bulldogs could stick with Stringer – which seems unlikely – or consider the Bombers offer. If they accepted 25 and 30 they could look at using one of those picks to secure Schache should they decide to pursue their initial interest in the forward.

While the idea of losing Stringer for less than pick 11 has been difficult to accept, using a pick to bring in a No.2 draft pick might make the deal salvageable.

Hawthorn is not in the market for Schache.

 

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Trade wrap: New suitor emerges for Schache (Nick Bowen and Nathan Schmook, AFL.com.au, 16/10)

A deal sending Charlie Cameron to the Brisbane Lions is also destined for the final day, according to sources close to the talks, after another deadlock on Monday.

Cameron met with the Crows on Friday to again explain his reasons for leaving and has returned to Perth briefly before making his way to Brisbane soon.

Adelaide list manager Justin Reid set the scene on Monday when he said that the Lions' pick No.12, if it was offered, did not have 70 games behind it and would not help the club next year.

"Unless we can get something else through the door it's very unlikely Charlie Cameron will be anywhere else," Reid told NAB AFL Trade Radio.

"Charlie will help us next year. Charlie will play 20-25 games for us and he'll help us get there again. The value for us is the next 12 months."

What would it take for Adelaide to come to the party?

At this stage the Lions' offer is pick No.20. For the Crows to do that deal, they'd need to know that a trade for an experienced player from a third club would follow.

They also hold picks No.10 and No.16 and it makes no sense for a losing Grand Finalist aiming to go one better to take such a strong hand to the draft.

There is a feeling they will need to shake Bryce Gibbs free at Carlton to let Cameron go. For that process to start, one of three things needs to happen:

- Gibbs has to say he wants to be traded to Adelaide

- Adelaide has to say it wants to trade for Gibbs

- (and this is the least likely) Carlton has to say it is willing to trade Gibbs for draft picks

Whoever blinks first weakens their bargaining position and both clubs know it, but Gibbs to Adelaide might be the final big twist in this Trade Period.

 

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Port Adelaide waiting on Brisbane to deliver draft pick to move on contracted ruckman Matthew Lobbe (Michaelangelo Rucci, The Advertiser, 16/10)

CONTRACTED Port Adelaide ruckman Matthew Lobbe is closer to a trade - to Brisbane - to jump start his AFL career.

Lobbe, 28, is to be part of a simple trade for a third or fourth-round draft pick from the Lions as soon as Brisbane and Lobbe’s management work through a new contract. Currently, Lobbe is on the Power’s books with a five-year deal until the end of the 2019 season.

Lobbe signed that infamous contract extension after his stellar 2014 season in which he played 24 of 25 games (missing one with injury).

Since then, Lobbe has played just 25 AFL games in three seasons - and none this year when the Power has worked to All-Australian ruckman Patrick Ryder’s taps.

 

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Adelaide Crows expect Charlie Cameron to be part of “premiership push” as Brisbane trade continues (Michelangelo Rucci, The Advertiser, 17/10)

ADELAIDE insists contracted speedster Charlie Cameron is an indisputable part of the Crows’ AFL premiership push next season - a role Brisbane’s top-shelf draft picks cannot immediately deliver in return.

Brisbane currently has four top-20 picks to next month’s AFL national draft in Sydney - Nos. 1, 12, 18 and 20. While many commentators consider the No. 18 pick (gained as compensation for losing free-agent midfielder Tom Rockliff) fair value for Cameron, Adelaide can demand more considering Cameron is a contracted player.

So far, Adelaide’s asking price - first the No. 1 pick; then the No. 12 pick and All-Australian midfielder Dayne Zorko - has been excessive.

There also is Reid’s determination to set up a bonanza for next year’s so-called “super draft” - by chasing Brisbane’s 2018 first-round picks.

Reid has rejected draft pick No. 12 alone arguing this “doesn’t have 70 games” to match Cameron’s 73 AFL matches in four seasons since rising off the rookie list in 2014. Hence, the push for 28-year-old Zorko.

“Pick 12 ain’t going to help me next year,” Reid said in Melbourne as the trade talks approach Thursday’s 1.30pm deadline with major deals still on hold.

Cameron met with Crows coach Don Pyke on Friday to reiterate he wants to return to his family base in Queensland - and to reunite with his school mates and step out of the “bubble” in Adelaide.

The Crows’ failure to claim Geelong free-agent Steven Motlop - who has signed a four-year, $2.2 million deal at Port Adelaide - makes it more difficult to concede Cameron to Brisbane without Adelaide feeling it is falling back in the premiership race.

“Charlie will help us next year,” Reid said. “We want to get to the last week of September again - and Charlie will play 20-25 games for us and help us get there again.

“That’s how we look at the value for us - the next 12 months - not what the value is right now.”

Reid’s value remark is in reference to many AFL analysts noting Adelaide can command a first-round draft pick for Cameron in this trade period - and possibly nothing next year when Cameron is out of contract and capable of walking to the Lions without compensation to the Crows through the draft.

 

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.@cleary_mitch: Just getting word the Josh Schache interest is ramping up. It's getting to the stage he won't go back. #NABTradeRadio

Mitch: "The currency for him has risen over the last couple of days. There are clubs coming for him"