As we enter the final week of trade talks, Collingwood expresses concern over free agency, two more clubs enter the frame in a possible Jared Polec deal, and the Crows and Bombers fight for a young Giant.
Crows and Dons seeking Giant
Adelaide and Essendon are still locked in a battle for the services of Greater Western Sydney youngster Shaun Edwards.
Edwards, 19, is the only Giant on tour in Ireland with the Indigenous All Stars.
The talented midfielder/defender played two games this year for a career tally of 12.
Meanwhile, the Crows, who have added Geelong premiership player James Podsiadly and Carlton free agent Eddie Betts to their forward line, have so far been unable to find a new home for out-of-contract big man Shaun McKernan, while contracted utility Ricky Henderson is still regarded as a required player despite interest in Melbourne.
Roo to bound into St Kilda
North Melbourne defender Luke Delaney is expected to become a Saint by Tuesday morning.
St Kilda list manager Ameet Bains told Melbourne radio station SEN on Monday morning that the Saints and Kangaroos had engaged in "really strong discussion" on Sunday and that a deal could be brokered as early as Monday afternoon.
Bains also said the Saints' pick No.3 was not on the table "at this stage".
He revealed that some time ago his club had held fruitless talks with Greater Western Sydney over the possibility of trading for the Giants' No.1 pick, but had since "moved on".
GWS has been interested in veteran defender Sam Fisher, but Bains said the 31-year-old would remain a Saint.
The Saints are also hopeful of landing promising Brisbane Lions ruckman Billy Longer, and Bains said any deal was likely to take a few days, given the Lions are demanding "a high price". He didn’t dismiss the possibility of a shuffle of draft picks.
Pies have free-agency fears
Collingwood chief executive Gary Pert is concerned that free agency will make it tougher for clubs to build team spirit.
A Magpie delegation discussed the issue, among others, during a recent visit to English soccer heavyweight Manchester United.
"We’ve come from a period not that long ago where there was not much movement because there was this total loyalty and connection (to the club)," Pert told News Limited.
"Now what we’re going to have is a more professional and business-like decision making process by the players, their managers and the clubs.
"That’s already in place at places like Manchester United, so what we’ve talked to them about is how they go about making decisions that give them the absolute best list of players but at the same time maintain a tight side-by-side culture of loyalty and togetherness.
"I think that, in the AFL, is going to be a challenge at a level greater than we’ve ever experienced and I think it’s going to continue to move in that way year after year."
Possible three-way deal for Polec
St Kilda and Gold Coast are vying for Port Adelaide's first-round draft pick - the one that is expected to help deliver young Brisbane midfielder Jared Polec to the Power.
In a potential three-way deal, Port will hand over pick 14 to the Lions and then get selection 18 or 20 from the Saints or Suns respectively.
With Lions ruckman Billy Longer declaring he wants to join St Kilda, the Saints can offer pick 18, which it received from Hawthorn for ruckman Ben McEvoy, to the Lions for Longer.
News Limited reports that the Power could trade pick 14 for No.18 as part of the Polec deal.
Polec, a 20-year-old South Australian, last week declared his preference to play for the Power.
