AFL trade buzz: Eagles put pick three on table for Liam Baker, Harry Perryman latest

Richmond could hold two of the top-three picks in this year’s draft, with West Coast putting its top selection on the table in the race for Liam Baker. JON RALPH wraps up the latest trade talk.

Is this how the Tigers nab Liam Baker? (Photo by Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

West Coast would be open to trading its No. 3 pick to Richmond if it secures Liam Baker with all options open as both WA clubs await an official decision on the Tigers vice-captain.

The depth of the draft means the Eagles might be prepared to accept a pick back later in the top 10 if they secure their man.

It could come as early as the No.6 pick, which the Tigers may receive from Gold Coast in a Dan Rioli trade.

Richmond’s new chief executive Shane Dunne this week warned rivals it will take something “extraordinary” to drag contracted players Shai Bolton and Daniel Rioli out of Punt Rd.

Baker is uncontracted, and while he is leaning towards the Eagles, his management has told the Dockers and West Coast he is yet to come to an official decision.

Liam Baker could net Richmond pick three if he nominates West Coast. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images

With quality WA-based talent later in the first round like Bo Allan, the Eagles could be prepared to hand the Tigers a second top-three selection, secure Baker and then still take an early pick.

The Eagles will also secure pick 12 from Hawthorn as part of the Tom Barrass trade, but will also want another selection in this year or next year’s draft.

Hawthorn has made clear to the Eagles it will not play hardball, but West Coast will want more than pick 12 for the contracted premiership defender.

Despite some industry speculation, the Eagles are not particularly interested in uncontracted Hawks’ former top-10 pick Denver Grainger Barras, so at this stage he will not be part of that deal.

As Gold Coast’s Wayne Campbell said this week, the Suns would be fair in their dealings with Rioli, but Dunne has drawn his own line in the sand.

He told the Talking Tigers podcast that because the pair are contracted – although Baker is out of contract – the Tigers could play hard ball.

“Clearly those guys have made their decisions and that is what they want to look at and there are a whole range of reasons for that and we are supportive of that, however they are contracted players and it will take an extraordinary deal to make those moves,” Dunne said.

“We get to work with (the) clubs in WA – and Gold Coast – to make those deals happen. There is still a long time to go, there will be a lot of talk, but we are in control of that.”

Bobby Hill is currently on a bargain deal at the Magpies. Picture: Michael Klein

BOBBY OPEN TO PIES EXTENSION — WITH A CATCH

Bobby Hill is open to a contract extension after moving management stables, but the Pies will have to show him the money to get a deal done over summer.

Hill has moved to Anthony McConville’s Mac’s Sports Promotions management firm after some mid-season wrangling over a new home, and has just completed another successful season at the Pies. He has two more years left on his deal, but by AFL measures he is significantly underpaid on a deal of around $450,000-$500,000.

The Pies had indicated early this year they would be prepared to lock him away long-term.

The 24-year-old Norm Smith Medallist is open to that scenario and handing him a long-deal with a better financial component would be fair for both parties.

It keeps the player happy and means rival clubs do not circulate an undervalued player, with Hill loving Melbourne and keen to stay at the club long term.

On Thursday Hill was nominated for the AFL’s Mark of the Year award, showcasing his incredible range of talents.

The Pies just locked away Will Hoskin-Elliott, Steele Sidebottom, Oscar Steene, Scott Pendlebury and Jeremy Howe on new deals, while Justin Leppitsch has started in his new role as Pies list boss and is looking at new ways to rate and judge talent and current players as part of his new brief.

Port Adelaide has the biggest offer on the table for Harry Perryman. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

PORT’S MEGA OFFER FOR PERRYMAN

Port Adelaide’s six-year offer for Harry Perryman is much more lucrative than the Hawthorn offer, which will give rise to hopes that the Power can land the free agent in coming weeks.

The Power have offered six years and around $800,000 for Perryman, and while the Hawks were keen their interest came at a time when fellow free agents Blake Hardwick and Conor Nash were considering their futures.

So while the Hawks are still keen on Perryman the financial element of their deal is similar to GWS, which is offering closer to $600,000.

Hawthorn is unlikely to budge on its offer, while clubs desperate for Perryman are considering whether to offer seventh-year triggers as an added lure to get him to their teams.

Harry McKay was linked with a trade to Melbourne as part of the Christian Petracca speculation. Picture: Brendon Thorne/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

MCKAY DETAILS TRADE RUMOUR ANGST

Carlton star Harry McKay says he was never going to leave the Blues despite his name being thrown into the aborted Christian Petracca trade.

And he has cautioned against “hypothetical” discussions about trades that can negatively impact players.

His name was raised in discussions over Petracca but he never wanted to leave and the Blues quickly told him they had never considered a trade.

As an industry, sometimes we need to have more awareness around throwing a name (up) hypothetically and not understanding the collateral damage that has,” he told his Ben and Harry podcast.

“I knew there was going to be an article at some stage but how it was reported was a bit more full-on than how I was thinking it was going to be. That next 24 hours you get a lot of calls, lots of messages, family members checking in seeing what’s going on. I’m not sure people fully understand – they might think it’s just part of the job and that’s what you put up with as a player – but it’s the people close to you. It’s funny the amount of calls and messages of family members checking in.”

Originally published as AFL trade buzz: Eagles put pick three on table for Liam Baker, Harry Perryman latest