Port Adelaide and Adelaide Crows have a weekend showdown to lure Geelong free-agent Steven Motlop

PORT Adelaide and the Crows will have an off-field showdown this week as they both chase Geelong free agent Steven Motlop.

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STEVEN Motlop this weekend will choose between deep-seated SA rivals Port Adelaide and the Crows as his new AFL club.

And Adelaide’s need to cover the loss of uncontracted defender Jake Lever in the trade period could be met by Essendon defender Aaron Francis who has sought a go-home trade to SA from the Bombers.

Motlop, 26, will meet both the Power and Adelaide officials with differing sales pitches being made to the Geelong free-agent midfielder-forward.

The Power is emphasising its program — and the game plan at Alberton — will bring the best out of the enigmatic and much-criticised Motlop who has kicked 175 goals in 135 AFL games since starting his national-league career with the Cats in 2010.

Steven Motlop is a man in demand, with up to six clubs chasing his signature. Picture: AAP Image/Julian Smith

Adelaide is offering Motlop more money as the Crows deal with the fallout of speedster Charlie Cameron seeking a trade to Brisbane despite being on contract for next season.

Unwanted when he was put up for trade last year, Motlop has had six clubs — Port Adelaide, the Crows, St Kilda, West Coast, Gold Coast and Geelong — seek his signature with his value rising in September by his work in two AFL finals.

Francis, 20, on Friday confirmed his intent to seek a trade home to SA despite signing a two-season contract extension with the Bombers 13 months ago.

Essendon told The Advertiser in August of its unease with the Crows approaching the South Australia who was the No. 6 pick in the 2015 AFL national draft.

The Bombers are not keen to make the trade to either the Crows or Port Adelaide. The Power confirmed its interest on Friday afternoon.

Francis’ Adelaide-based manager Michael Doughty described a trade as “more unlikely than likely”.

“He has another two years to run on his contract,” said Doughty while adding Francis had “suffered from homesickness” this year.

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley is keen to secure Motlop as his list-management team chases midfield and scoring power in the AFL trade period that will open at Etihad Stadium on Monday.

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The Power has Brisbane free-agent midfielder Tom Rockliff committed to joining Port Adelaide and is keen to work a trade with Melbourne for contracted forward Jack Watts.

Of Motlop, Hinkley said: “We expect Steven to make a decision over the weekend when he has all the information (from his suitors).

“One of our problems throughout the year was not hitting the scoreboard as well as we would have liked,” Hinkley said. “If we are lucky enough to get Steven Motlop, we’d be pretty happy to have him around our midfield — and (offering) the ball transition you need in today’s game.

“I can see him playing wing, inside-midfield and playing forward.”

Watts, 26, toured Port Adelaide’s Alberton facilities last week. He has the Power, Sydney, Geelong and possibly Collingwood to consider.

“We are still in the conversation,” Hinkley. “We are strong in our thoughts to get Jack. We have been specific in what we want — the ability to hit the scoreboard and Rockliff, Motlop and Watts certainly give us that.”

Port Adelaide on Friday released restricted free-agent utility Jackson Trengove to return to Victoria to take up a three-year deal with the Western Bulldogs.

Trengove, 26, was the first player to have his paperwork lodged at AFL House yesterday morning when the free-agent market opened. The Power did not take up the three-day response time allowed by the AFL to match the Bulldogs’ offering, allowing the 153-game Trengove to immediately change clubs.

Outgoing Port Adelaide swingman Jackson Trengove and out-of-favour Melbourne forward Jack Watts in younger times.

“We’ll always be indebted to Jackson for the leadership he showed in 2012, choosing to stand by the club and his team-mates at a time when Port Adelaide was struggling in a lot of areas,” Power list manager Jackson Trengove said.

“Jackson has been offered a great opportunity by the Western Bulldogs.

“Sometimes you have to say goodbye to great people. Jackson has made countless friendships at Port Adelaide that will remain strong. He’ll always be welcome back at Alberton.”

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