Jaeger O’Meara is yet to nominate a preferred club as clubs vie for prime position

JAEGER O’Meara is yet to tell Gold Coast where he wants to be traded as two Victorian heavyweights jostle for prime position.

Jaeger O'Meara at Gold Coast training. Picture: Richard Gosling

ESSENDON and Hawthorn have emerged as the early frontrunners for Rising Star Jaeger O’Meara, who is yet to tell Gold Coast where he wants to be traded.

The Suns’ threat of refusing to swap O’Meara unless they are fairly compensated remains real, where he would almost certainly join the Bombers for no cost in the pre-season draft.

That result could net Essendon the No.1 draft pick and O’Meara for free on the back of this year’s drug suspensions.

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Bombers great Tim Watson said O’Meara could end up the greatest midfielder in AFL history should he recover from serious knee injuries.

“He still has the potential to be one of the best midfielders we’ve ever seen. Inside, outside, vision — he has everything going for him,” Watson said.

Bombers captain Brendon Goddard joked “if he needs a new knee, I’ll give him mine”.

Jaeger O'Meara at Gold Coast training. Picture: David Clark

But sources close to O’Meara doubted whether he would want to link up with Guy McKenna, who is now an assistant coach at Essendon.

McKenna, the inaugural Suns coach, was sacked at the end of 2014.

The Hawks would struggle to strike a trade for O’Meara should they land Sydney’s Tom Mitchell, as expected.

Onballer Mitchell has put contract talks on hold with the Swans unable to match the offers coming in.

Mitchell could cost the Hawks their first draft selection, currently No.16.

St Kilda is believed to have cooled on O’Meara, wary of taking on another young player with medical troubles.

Last year the Saints traded in former No.10 pick Nathan Freeman, who is yet to debut because of repeat hamstring setbacks.

O’Meara, 22, has not played an AFL game since 2014.

Carlton chief executive Steven Trigg confirmed the Blues spoke with O’Meara’s management mid-season.

The Blues are armed with the No.5 draft pick, but the Hawks and Dons appear the more likely destinations.

Collingwood has also been linked to O’Meara, but has little trade currency.

The Magpies’ first pick is not until No.25 and they need to keep draft points to land father-son pair Josh Daicos and Callum Brown.

The Suns are only interested in acquiring early picks or quality players for O’Meara.

But they appear increasingly likely to swap Dion Prestia for Richmond’s No.6 pick given few at the Tigers hold much trade appeal.

Should O’Meara ask to be traded to the Hawks, the Suns would seek a player entrenched in their best 22.

They would also want Hawthorn to find a top-10 selection.

Jaeger O'Meara hasn’t played AFL since 2014. Picture: Richard Gosling

The Hawks last year drafted Ryan Burton at No.19 despite fears from other clubs the goalkicker’s dodgy knee made him too risky.

Burton has played the past three games and could feature in next Friday night’s qualifying final.

O’Meara would help regenerate the midfield at Waverley with champions Sam Mitchell, Luke Hodge and Shaun Burgoyne nearing the end.

Essendon coach John Worsfold is also a chance of snaring West Coast backman Eric Mackenzie.

The Bombers’ pitch to O’Meara would hinge on joining the glut of young talent they have assembled.

They would sell the prospect of chasing a premiership with this year’s No.1 pick, Zach Merrett (age 20), Dyson Heppell (24), Darcy Parish (19), Orazio Fantasia (20) as well as key-position guns Michael Hurley (26), Cale Hooker (27) and hot prospect Aaron Francis (19).

Their push would be strengthened because unlike other clubs, if O’Meara chooses Essendon he would join a club which did not have to sacrifice any talent to sign him.

Originally published as Jaeger O’Meara is yet to nominate a preferred club as clubs vie for prime position