Matthew Lobbe has rejected an offer to leave Port Adelaide and join the Western Bulldogs

MATTHEW Lobbe is staying at Port Adelaide after rejecting the chance to the traded to the Western Bulldogs.

Port Adelaide Training at Alberton. Matthew Lobbe. Photo Sarah Reed.

MATTHEW Lobbe is staying at Port Adelaide after rejecting the chance to the traded to the Western Bulldogs.

And the Power insists it will not take up any last-minute offers for the 26-year-old lead ruckman when the 18 AFL clubs meet at Etihad Stadium for the close of trade talks tomorrow.

Lobbe today was again hot property, first with AFL Trade Radio speculating on Richmond making a play with its first-round (No. 12) pick in next month’s national draft. While the Tigers did not put that offer to the Power, the Western Bulldogs reacted with a parcel of draft picks — including their first-rounder (No. 11).

This would have given Port Adelaide a first-round draft pick for the first time since 2012.

That was tempting enough for Port Adelaide to ask Lobbe — who on holiday in Vietnam — to make a call on his future that is linked to a contract at Alberton until the end of 2019.

Despite the chance to be unchallenged as the Western Bulldogs’ lead ruckman, Lobbe told the Power he wanted to stay at Alberton where he is in a contest to be the No. 1 ruckman with Essendon recruit Patrick Ryder.

If Lobbe was traded and Ryder banned, the Power’s premiership aspirations would be vulnerable as the working rucks would be reduced to Gold Coast recruit Charlie Dixon, utility Justin Westhoff, defender Jackson Trengove and untried draftee Billy Frampton.

His decision pleases Power coach Ken Hinkley who believes he can play two ruckmen — Lobbe and Ryder — next season when rotations will be capped to 90 but the interchange bench will have no substitute.

It also eases the concern at Alberton should Ryder next month be banned during the WADA appeal to the Court of Arbitration in Sport hearing on the Essendon supplements saga in 2012. Ryder and Power forward Angus Monfries were at the Bombers during that contentious program.

The Power list-management and recruiting staff returned to Melbourne tonight, expected to be spectators as talks rush to tomorrow’s 1.30pm deadline.

Port Adelaide is expected to close the trade period with no player leaving Alberton — not even midfielders Aaron Young and Andrew Moore. Entering the Power system are Dixon and 21-year-old Melbourne midfielder Jimmy Toumpas.

Adelaide closed its busy trade mission this morning when contracted Carlton forward Troy Menzel passed his medical. He joins the Crows in return for second-round draft pick No. 28 — and midfielder Sam Kerridge who joins the Blues to sign a three-year contract.

Adelaide walks away from the trade talks with two first-round draft picks (Nos. 9 and 13) and four new players — Menzel, GWS defender Curtly Hampton, Collingwood Anzac Medallist Paul Seedsman and untried Geelong midfielder Dean Gore. It has lost club champion Patrick Dangerfield to Geelong and Kerridge.

There are two much talked-about trades working against the 1.30pm deadline at Etihad Stadium tomorrow — Brisbane midfielder James Aish’s wish to be at Collingwood and contracted Carlton speedster Chris Yarran’s desire to be a Tiger.

Collingwood today finally secured midfielder-forward Adam Treloar from Greater Western Sydney, hours after the Magpies were embarrassed by the release of a video filmed last week of Treloar signing a player contract before he went overseas for a holiday.

The impasse between Essendon and St Kilda for Bombers defender Jake Carlisle was resolved by Sydney entering the trade. The Swans scored draft picks to help with its plans to recruit academy talent in Sydney. They also sent midfielder Craig Bird to Essendon.

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TRADE WINDS

AFL deals lodged on Day 8 of the trade period.

TROY MENZEL from Carlton to Adelaide for second-round draft pick (No. 28) and Sam Kerridge.

SAM KERRIDGE from Adelaide to Carlton with draft pick No. 28.

LACHIE PLOWMAN, ANDREW PHILLIPS, JED LAMB and LIAM SUMNER from Greater Western Sydney to Carlton for second-round pick (No. 28), fifth-round (No. 77) and sixth-round (No. 95). The Giants also have swapped first-round pick (No. 8) for a 2016 first-round pick.

JAKE CARLISLE from Essendon to St Kilda for draft pick No. 5. The trade also has St Kilda swap second-round pick (No. 24) with Sydney for first-round pick (No. 14).

CRAIG BIRD from Sydney to Essendon for second-round pick (No. 23) and third-round pick (No. 44). The Swans also concede second-round pick (No. 24).

ADAM TRELOAR from GWS to Collingwood for first-round pick (No. 7), fourth-round pick (No. 62) and 2016 first-round pick. Giants hand fourth-round pick (No. 68) to Magpies.

TOMAS BUGG from GWS to Melbourne for first-round pick (No. 10), third-round pick (No. 43) and fourth-round pick (No. 64). The Demons also gained first-round pick (No. 7).

MATT ROSA from West Coast to Gold Coast for second-round pick (No. 31).

JACK FITZPATRICK from Melbourne to Hawthorn for fifth-round pick (No. 94).

MELBOURNE and GOLD COAST also shuffled draft picks. Gold Coast gained picks No. 6 and 29 and a 2016 first-round pick. Melbourne took picks Nos. 3, 10 and 43.

TRADE DEADLINE: 1.30pm Thursday.