HAWTHORN would be prepared to restructure its player payments to fit in Jake Carlisle as Essendon stands firm on its trade demands.
The Hawks remain keen on Carlisle and will attempt to zero in if the Saints and Bombers cannot agree to a deal by Thursday afternoon.
The reigning premiers privately are confident Carlisle has not ruled out Waverley as a new home next season.
JAY CLARK, MICK WARNER AND SAM LANDSBERGER DISCUSSED ALL THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THE TRADE HQ PODCAST. LISTEN BELOW
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Herald Sun has confirmed Hawthorn has room to accommodate Carlisle in its salary cap with some manoeuvring of other deals, after the retirements of veterans Brian Lake and David Hale.
Unless Essendon buckles, Carlisle will have to reconsider joining Hawthorn or entering the preseason draft, where Carlton could snaffle the big man with pick No.1.
The impasse threatens to leave Carlisle in limbo leading up the 2pm trade deadline on Thursday.
St Kilda is set to secure injury-plagued Collingwood midfielder Nathan Freeman in exchange for a second-round pick from next year’s draft.
The deal is expected to be finalised this morning, adding some much-needed pace to the Saints’ youthful midfield.
On Monday, Essendon sent ruckman Jonathan Giles and pick No.62 to West Coast for pick No.57.
Jake Carlisle still wants to be traded to St Kilda. Picture: Michael Klein
Carlisle’s preference is to join St Kilda and does not want to go back on his word after agreeing to join the rebuilding club on a lucrative, long-term contract.
St Kilda confirmed it was in talks with the Bombers and remained confident of landing Carlisle, adding a prime 24-year-old tall to its back half line.
One theory is that the Saints will hand over pick No.5 and receive some later-round selections back from the Bombers, eventually satisfying both parties.
The Bombers are happy to do a deal with Hawthorn in exchange for picks No.15 and No.18.
Essendon has said it will trade Carlisle to the Saints for pick No.5, but St Kilda has been unwilling to part with its top choice unless it involves getting an earlier selection back from another club.
The Bombers ruled out accepting Port Adelaide’s pick No.10 in a multi-club deal involving Charlie Dixon’s move from Gold Coast to Port Adelaide.
St Kilda remains in the box seat to land the swingman, if it parts with pick No.5.
Freeman, 20, has been plagued by hamstring injuries which have sidelined by the speedster for the past two years, but he is primed to begin pre-season training on time.