Port Adelaide AFL trade news: How can Power land Brodie Grundy, Esava Ratugolea and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher?

If it all works out, Port Adelaide might be the big winner of this year’s trade period – but can they get three big names over the line? Here’s how it might play out.

How many key trade targets will Port Adelaide land?

Port Adelaide might have the greatest juggling act of the trade period on its hands once again this year.

As coach Ken Hinkley prepares to pull the rip chord on the club’s finals campaign, list boss Jason Cripps is busy in the background trying to bring together a three-pronged plan.

It might be very tricky, but is not beyond the realms that the Power land Melbourne ruckman Brodie Grundy, Geelong defender Esava Ratugolea and Essendon backman Brandon Zerk-Thatcher as part of a bold bid to stay in premiership contention in 2024.

While Port Adelaide might be light on for picks after bringing in Jason Horne-Francis last year, the club certainly has the salary cap room to fit in the trio of new additions.

Ruckman Scott Lycett is expected to go, defender Tom Clurey could make room and clubs are expected to have a look at father-son Jackson Mead.

Veteran spearhead Charlie Dixon is expected to stay on a reduced deal which is set to be signed-off on as soon as next week.

Brodie Grundy has been relegated to the VFL and could be on the move after this season. Picture: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos

The Grundy negotiations will be difficult as Melbourne have said clearly it doesn’t want to let him go.

But his manager, Robbie D’Orazio, has a history of making deals happen as one of the most powerful management stables in the game.

The Grundy deal could centre around a late-second or third-round pick if Port make sure they cover the bulk of his salary which could be revised down from his original $900,000 a year mega-deal at Collingwood.

Ironically, Port has Collingwood’s second-round pick this year which could help clinch a Grundy deal for the Power if the money is right.

But where Port may have to get creative is splitting its future first-round pick into two selections this year which could help start to satisfy Geelong (for Ratugolea) and Essendon (Zerk-Thatcher).

Esava Ratugolea might be on his way to Alberton too. Picture: Matt Roberts/AFL Photos

The Cats want Port’s future first-round pick on its own for Ratugolea.

But the Power will likely baulk at offloading the golden future first-rounder in a straight swap for the key defender who was dropped this year.

There’s a theory Lycett could also end up at Geelong, but he’s a free agent and there remain doubts on his knee.

So the key could be turning that future pick into two selections in the second-round of this draft to help please Geelong and Essendon on the two backmen. Plenty of water to flow under the bridge etc.

As far as Port is concerned, it has a nest of enviable young talent which has formed the nucleus of its star-studded midfield.

But the club is on the hunt for a ruckman, and to bolster the defence which is the club’s biggest worry in September.

It will take some creativity behind the scenes, but as big as Port went in last year’s trade period, there could yet be an impressive second act coming next month.