‘Staggered’: Bulldogs ‘irate’ as Brisbane deal falls apart
One of the highest-profile negotiations of the AFL Trade Period has spectacularly fallen apart leaving one club fuming.
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The Bulldogs have told the Lions’ they’re dreamin’.
Talks between the two clubs have reportedly broken down, putting the future of Josh Dunkley in limbo.
Dunkley’s move has reportedly taken a major twist with the Bulldogs prepared to let the 25-year-old fall through to the pre-season draft out of spite of Brisbane’s latest trade maneuvering.
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Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge last week said the Lions would have to “pony up” if the club wanted to strike a deal. That clearly hasn’t happened.
Dunkley has officially requested to be traded to Brisbane after reportedly agreeing to terms on a six-year deal worth more than $4 million.
The Bulldogs have always demanded two first-round picks for Dunkley — and were reportedly open to an offer from the Lions for the club’s first round picks in 2022 and 2023.
However, it emerged on Thursday talks have fallen apart over the Lions reportedly demanding the Bulldogs throw in lower-round picks into the deal, on top of Dunkley.
SEN’s Sam Edmund first reported the Bulldogs are “irate” over the Lions’ latest moves.
The report claims the Lions wanted the Bulldogs’ Pick 30 and Pick 39 as part of the deal and threatened to split its prized first-round pick — No. 15 overall — if the Bulldogs did not accept.
After the Bulldogs refused the deal, Brisbane proceeded to make good on its threat and traded on Pick 15, leaving its top pick at No. 21.
Edmund reports the Lions were “staggered”.
The Bulldogs were reportedly still prepared to entertain a deal surrounding that pick and the Lions’ future first-round pick, but will not budge on adding any picks of its own in such a deal.
“The Lions might try and nudge 21 up a bit, but the Dogs feel they’re being taken for a ride. And Brisbane think they will fold,” Edmund wrote.
“The Dogs last night sat down and are now committed to getting nothing in return if it gets to that. Dunkley would go into the open market.”
He went on to say: “The Dogs are irritated that the Lions knew all year these kids were coming through and they haven’t adequately prepared for that and yet have committed to Dunkley.”
The Lions appear to have overstretched their hand, having also committed to a trade with Hawthorn for sharp-shooter Jack Gunston, while also needing a huge amount of draft capital to take father-son prospect Will Ashcroft in the draft when the teenager is expected to be the No. 1 overall pick. The club also needs enough draft capital to be able to take Jaspa Fletcher as a father-son selection in this year’s draft.
Earlier this week, the Lions received pick No. 35 from the AFL as compensation for forward Daniel McStay’s departure to Collingwood as a free agent.
Originally published as ‘Staggered’: Bulldogs ‘irate’ as Brisbane deal falls apart
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