Fremantle’s game of bluff puts Jesse Hogan, Lachie Neale and Steven May in limbo

FREMANTLE must back down from a dramatic game of bluff on Jesse Hogan and Lachie Neale or a handful of star players will be stuck in limbo next year, writes JON RALPH.

Brisbane will be prepared to wait another year for Lachie Neale. Picture: Getty Images

FREMANTLE must back down from a dramatic game of bluff on Jesse Hogan and Lachie Neale or a handful of star players will be stuck in limbo next year.

Dockers football boss Peter Bell on Friday stated the Dockers had pulled out of the race on Hogan because of Melbourne’s unrealistic trade demands.

That statement came at the same time Dockers chief executive Steve Rosich was indicating to the Herald Sun they were interested in Hogan but not at any price.

HARD BALL: NEALE REMAINS FIRM ON LIONS MOVE

TRADE SHOCK: THIRD-ROUND PICK CAN SEAL SCULLY

PAYING ‘OVERS’: NINE MOST LOPSIDED TRADE DEALS

It suggests the Dockers could still back down in coming days, with Hogan’s management adamant Fremantle had been obsessed with his return for years.

Melbourne has asked for two first-round picks and been offered only pick 11 and a future second-round pick.

With five days left in the trade period the Dockers are holding up deals for Neale, Hogan, Steven May and a potential pick swap between Gold Coast and Adelaide.

Fremantle trading Neale to Brisbane for pick 5 would allow the Dockers to on-trade it to Melbourne for Hogan, who would then hand it to Gold Coast for skipper Steven May.

The Dockers are also demanding five and a second first-round pick for Neale, which the Lions have absolutely no intention of coughing up.

The impasse could lead to the disastrous situation where all of Neale, Hogan and May are playing out the year at clubs they do not want to be with.

The Dockers has backed away from trading for Jesse Hogan. Picture: AAP

Fremantle chief executive Steve Rosich told the Herald Sun on Friday the Dockers were more than happy to keep Neale against his will.

“We are very, very happy to keep Lachie,” he said.

Neale made it clear in a short and fiery meeting with Bell this week he would not play for Fremantle next year under any circumstances.

Brisbane says if it misses on Neale it will take him as a free agent next year and potentially use its No.5 pick to help Adelaide move up the draft and secure multiple first-round selections.

In the game of bluff, Brisbane seems least likely to bend because it can so easily secure Neale next year while maximising its pick 5 this year.

Melbourne must rely on a trade for Jesse Hogan to get Steven May from Gold Coast. Picture: AAP

Gold Coast has made it clear it would trade May for only Melbournes pick five, but would need enough time to find a defensive replacement such as Port Adelaide’s Jack Hombsch if he did leave.

Former Dockers captain Bell, in the job less than two weeks, said Fremantle just wasn’t willing to give up two first-round picks for Hogan

“While discussions were proceeding it became clear that what Melbourne would be seeking for a trade would not be possible for our club to meet,’’ he said.

“As such, we have informed Melbourne and Jesse’s management that we will not be continuing further with the due diligence process.”

Originally published as Fremantle’s game of bluff puts Jesse Hogan, Lachie Neale and Steven May in limbo