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This report by Rucci appeared in the Advertiser and Herald Sun . I doubt the AFL will act, but how I would laugh if they did. Send him to Williamstown ... so near, yet so far!!!
Sheahan also reported he refused a last minute trade to Melbourne for #5.
Stevens stalemate stirs AFL interest
18 October 2003 Herald Sun
Michelangelo Rucci and Shannon McRae
NICK Stevens may stay on Port Adelaide's list next year as a deregistered player if the AFL rules the 23-year-old midfielder compromised this week's trade process with an ultimatum he would join only Collingwood.
Stevens' future remained in limbo last night after the 2pm deadline for trade week passed with Collingwood and the Power unable to strike a deal.
At 1.45pm, Collingwood made its last offer of draft picks No. 17 and 35. This came after the Magpies had tried to unload draft picks and players such as Mark McGough, Rupert Betheras, Leon Davis and Heath Scotland to the Power.
Port described those deals as "unreasonable and ridiculous" and offering nothing to replace the 127-game Stevens in its starting 18 next year.
Collingwood football manager Neil Balme described Port's attitude as a "half-back flanker's decision".
"You give away nothing, you stand your ground, and you feel better about it," he said.
"It's a bit like the Berlin Wall. You can't get out . . . it really is a bit of a siege mentality, but it's their decision to make."
The Power is seething its negotiations with other AFL clubs, in particular Carlton, were ruined by Stevens' ultimatum on Thursday.
The Power argues Stevens' declaration he would accept a trade only to Collingwood compromised its talks through the league and merits investigation by the AFL.
"The AFL needs to look at this very clearly," Port chief executive Brian Cunningham said last night.
"When Nick issued his ultimatum he would only accept a trade to Collingwood, it made it very difficult to do anything with other clubs."
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou, faced with accusations both Stevens and, in another deal, the Western Bulldogs, manipulated the trade period, confirmed last night he had ordered a review.
"If anything requires further clarification, we will do whatever is necessary to maintain the integrity of our rules," he said.
If the AFL rules Stevens's ultimatum did not violate its rules, the Victorian-born midfielder will nominate for the pre-season draft on December 16 and most probably declare his minimum salary.
Early expectation is that he would then join Carlton, which has already offered a four-year deal worth $500,000 a season.
Stevens's Adelaide-based manager, Max Stevens, will be in Melbourne next week to meet Carlton and the Bulldogs.
Max Stevens last night described player Stevens as "frustrated more than anything else and disappointed he did not get traded".
Port will get no compensation if Stevens is ruled eligible for the pre-season draft.
But if the AFL takes a tough stand on his ultimatum, he could be deregistered and have to wait until next October to endure another trade period. Then the Power could try again for a satisfactory trade.
Cunningham said last night his club's supporters should accept the Power stood on principle and would rather get nothing from losing Stevens than a reputation for being a soft touch in trade talks.
"The Port Adelaide Football Club will not be dictated to by other clubs or individuals, be they players or player managers," said Cunningham.
"By anyone's standards Collingwood did not offer a reasonable trade for Nick Stevens, a premier midfielder.
"We were offered players who would not make our first team. This suggests Collingwood did not rate Nick Stevens enough."
Balme said the Pies worked hard to broker a deal but were prepared to go only so far.
"The only player they really wanted was Alan Didak and he was absolutely adamant he didn't want to go to Port," Balme said. "All we had (to offer) was picks 17 and 35, which I know doesn't sound enough, but that's all we had. We weren't trying to be clever about it. We worked very hard to turn those into better numbers for them but it wasn't to be. So Carlton get him for nothing and Port get nothing."
Sheahan also reported he refused a last minute trade to Melbourne for #5.
Stevens stalemate stirs AFL interest
18 October 2003 Herald Sun
Michelangelo Rucci and Shannon McRae
NICK Stevens may stay on Port Adelaide's list next year as a deregistered player if the AFL rules the 23-year-old midfielder compromised this week's trade process with an ultimatum he would join only Collingwood.
Stevens' future remained in limbo last night after the 2pm deadline for trade week passed with Collingwood and the Power unable to strike a deal.
At 1.45pm, Collingwood made its last offer of draft picks No. 17 and 35. This came after the Magpies had tried to unload draft picks and players such as Mark McGough, Rupert Betheras, Leon Davis and Heath Scotland to the Power.
Port described those deals as "unreasonable and ridiculous" and offering nothing to replace the 127-game Stevens in its starting 18 next year.
Collingwood football manager Neil Balme described Port's attitude as a "half-back flanker's decision".
"You give away nothing, you stand your ground, and you feel better about it," he said.
"It's a bit like the Berlin Wall. You can't get out . . . it really is a bit of a siege mentality, but it's their decision to make."
The Power is seething its negotiations with other AFL clubs, in particular Carlton, were ruined by Stevens' ultimatum on Thursday.
The Power argues Stevens' declaration he would accept a trade only to Collingwood compromised its talks through the league and merits investigation by the AFL.
"The AFL needs to look at this very clearly," Port chief executive Brian Cunningham said last night.
"When Nick issued his ultimatum he would only accept a trade to Collingwood, it made it very difficult to do anything with other clubs."
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou, faced with accusations both Stevens and, in another deal, the Western Bulldogs, manipulated the trade period, confirmed last night he had ordered a review.
"If anything requires further clarification, we will do whatever is necessary to maintain the integrity of our rules," he said.
If the AFL rules Stevens's ultimatum did not violate its rules, the Victorian-born midfielder will nominate for the pre-season draft on December 16 and most probably declare his minimum salary.
Early expectation is that he would then join Carlton, which has already offered a four-year deal worth $500,000 a season.
Stevens's Adelaide-based manager, Max Stevens, will be in Melbourne next week to meet Carlton and the Bulldogs.
Max Stevens last night described player Stevens as "frustrated more than anything else and disappointed he did not get traded".
Port will get no compensation if Stevens is ruled eligible for the pre-season draft.
But if the AFL takes a tough stand on his ultimatum, he could be deregistered and have to wait until next October to endure another trade period. Then the Power could try again for a satisfactory trade.
Cunningham said last night his club's supporters should accept the Power stood on principle and would rather get nothing from losing Stevens than a reputation for being a soft touch in trade talks.
"The Port Adelaide Football Club will not be dictated to by other clubs or individuals, be they players or player managers," said Cunningham.
"By anyone's standards Collingwood did not offer a reasonable trade for Nick Stevens, a premier midfielder.
"We were offered players who would not make our first team. This suggests Collingwood did not rate Nick Stevens enough."
Balme said the Pies worked hard to broker a deal but were prepared to go only so far.
"The only player they really wanted was Alan Didak and he was absolutely adamant he didn't want to go to Port," Balme said. "All we had (to offer) was picks 17 and 35, which I know doesn't sound enough, but that's all we had. We weren't trying to be clever about it. We worked very hard to turn those into better numbers for them but it wasn't to be. So Carlton get him for nothing and Port get nothing."

