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Port Adelaide is set to shut down a bold trade request from West Coast when discussing a Junior Rioli trade.
Plus the Suns are set to pounce on a Saints utility and why the Lions are “comfortable” with the Josh Dunkley situation.
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EAGLES’ BOLD REQUEST SET TO BE KNOCKED BACK
West Coast will likely ask Port Adelaide to include Mitch Georgiades as part of a Junior Rioli trade, but the Eagles’ request is expected to be knocked back, reports 7 News Perth.
The Eagles on Tuesday night were left “bitterly disappointed” after Rioli informed the club of his desire to join Port Adelaide via a trade.
Rioli, who was part of the Eagles’ 2018 premiership, is out of contract but isn’t a free agent, so a trade needs to be struck in order for him to join the Power.
The free agency compensation selection Port gets for losing Karl Amon to Hawthorn is set to play a crucial role in the deal. But the Power are also interested in star midfielder Josh Dunkley, who remains uncontracted.
Georgiades, who was drafted out of WA by Port Adelaide with Pick 18 in the 2019 draft, has kicked 63 goals from 47 games since being
7 News Perth journalist Ryan Daniels reported the Eagles would “ask for Mitch Georgiades” in negotiations but said the prospect was “highly unlikely” as Georgiades “has no desire to return to WA at this point”.
Georgiades’ manager Tom Seccull late last month told The West Australian his client wouldn’t be making the move back home to Perth.
“Mitch is happy, contracted and looking forward to a big pre-season ahead of next year,” Seccull told The West Australian.
“He’s an exciting young player, Mitch, so naturally there’s going to be continued interest from rival clubs. It’s not uncommon.”
TOUGH SAINT EYES QLD MOVE
Hard-edge St Kilda utility Ben Long has reportedly told his club he wants to be traded to the Gold Coast Suns.
Both The Age and Herald Sun on Wednesday morning reported the Suns were well placed to secure Long, who’s uncontracted beyond this year.
Long had also attracted interest from North Melbourne, but it appears the Suns will soon begin talks with St Kilda on a suitable trade.
The 25-year-old, who’s the nephew of dual premiership Bomber and Norm Smith Medallist Michael Long, has played 79 games for the Saints since being drafted with Pick 25 in the 2016 national draft.
Long has been used in various roles at the Saints, but primarily played in the forward half this year.
The Suns are set to be one of the most active teams during the trade period, with the club expected to bank another first-round draft pick as compensation for losing Izak Rankine, while fringe players Jeremy Sharp, Brayden Fiorini and Josh Corbett have also attracted interest from rival clubs.
LIONS ‘COMFORTABLE’ WITH DUNKLEY TALKS
The longer Josh Dunkley remains unsigned, the better chance Brisbane has of picking up the Bulldogs premiership midfielder, according to senior AFL reporter Damian Barrett.
Dunkley, who had his exit meeting at the Bulldogs last week, continues to weigh up offers from his current club, as well as Port Adelaide and Brisbane.
The Dogs are keen to retain Dunkley – who’s been sitting on a long-term contract offer from the club for months – and haven’t given up hope he’ll stay. But rival clubs believe there’s now a strong chance Dunkley will look for a fresh start elsewhere, with The Age reporting Port’s offer was “considered more attractive” than Brisbane’s.
But with the Lions the only team of the three clubs in the Dunkley race still alive this season, Barrett said the Lions were bullish about their chances of securing the on-baller.
“As of Wednesday morning, the Lions are very comfortable with where their conversations are at,” Barrett said at the AFL Trade Radio launch.
“We do sometimes at this stage in these periods put two and two together – and the fact that they‘re still alive in the finals and the other destination potentially is Port Adelaide and they’ve been out of action for some time and there’s been no announcement publicly, I think it allows us to think that it’s at least line ball from that perspective.”
Five-time All-Australian Matthew Lloyd said Dunkley would be a “great fit” at Brisbane.
“I think both clubs need a big-bodied midfielder like Josh Dunkley, but he would assist Lachie Neale. They’ve tried (Rhys) Mathieson through this final series, (Devon) Robertson who’s a good young player – but nothing like Dunkley,” Lloyd said.
“Jarryd Lyons is on the way out by the looks of it with being squeezed out, so he’s a good fit for them.”
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