Port Adelaide secures Brisbane’s Tom Rockliff and waits to meet Geelong free agent Steve Motlop

PORT ADELAIDE has scored the first free-agent trade with confirmation it has Brisbane midfielder Tom Rockliff moving to Alberton.

Geelong’s free agent Steve Motlop could be moving to Alberton.

AFL FREE agency opens on Friday with Port Adelaide already having the first move of the trade market - Brisbane midfielder Tom Rockliff.

But the chase for Geelong restricted free agent Steven Motlop remains clouded as the Power “waits its turn” to meet with the 26-year-old while the midfielder-forward moves from coast to coast to consider his options with many suitors.

Port Adelaide list manager Jason Cripps is not sure when Rockliff will file his free-agency papers at AFL House, where the free-agent market opens at 8.30am on Friday.

There is still the finer detail of his contract to ratify after the 2014 All-Australian opted to choose the Power ahead of an eager Carlton.

Geelong’s free agent Steve Motlop Picture: WAYNE LUDBEY

Rockliff, 27, is a restricted free agent. But Brisbane - that has three days to respond to his free-agent request - will not block his move to Alberton.

The richer Rockliff’s financial terms are at the Power, the more hope the Lions have of getting a compensation pick early in the first round of next month’s AFL draft.

Cripps underlined his club’s eagerness for Rockliff saying he is a “clearance beast”.

“And he can play two roles for us - forward and midfield,” Cripps said.

Port Adelaide is competing with Geelong, Gold Coast, Adelaide, St Kilda and West Coast for Motlop, who just a month ago was considered the easiest free agent to pick up in the trade market.

This changed with Motlop’s work in the finals last month.

“We have some interest - as several clubs have,” Cripps said. “There’s a fair bit still to play out.”

Port Adelaide also is looking to contracted Melbourne utility Jack Watts, who appears keen to stay in Melbourne despite interest from the Power and Sydney.

Port Adelaide free-agent utility Jackson Trengove is still to declare his intent. He is expected to take up a four-season offer from the Western Bulldogs after his 153-game, eight-season stay at the Power.

This could be confirmed in a farewell speech tomorrow when the Power has its club champion count for the John Cahill Medal.

Port Adelaide has three players - specialist forward Aaron Young, midfielder Brendon Ah Chee and ruckman Matthew Lobbe - seeking trades to find more game time at new clubs.

AhChee’s management says it has three options for the West Australian, the most likely being at West Coast.

Young and Lobbe could find new homes at the Queensland AFL clubs, Brisbane and Gold Coast. Lobbe is carrying a contract that does not expire until the end of 2019.

The Power is not so keen to work a trade for contracted speed machine Jarman Impey.

“He is contracted for next season - and he is a required player,” Cripps said.

The Power’s games record holder Kane Cornes said on Thursday morning he believed Impey had played his last game for the club.

He believes Impey will return to Victoria during the trade period, with Hawthorn keen to secure his services.

“Hawthorn have a really keen interest in Jarman Impey,” Cornes told NAB Trade Radio. “How they get that deal done, I’m not exactly sure. When you look at Hawthorn, they aren’t exactly blessed with draft picks.

The AFL trade period opens with all 18 clubs meeting from 8.30am Monday at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne.

Free agency offers must be lodged by 4.30pm on Sunday, October 15. The free-agency periods ends three days later.

The 11-day trade period ends at 1.30pm on Thursday, October 19.