Richmond, Fremantle rebuff three-way deal involving Bulldog Jake Stringer

FREMANTLE has followed Richmond, becoming the latest club to shut down the Western Bulldogs’ desperate bid to secure an early draft pick for Jake Stringer.

Richmond won’t help Essendon secure Jake Stringer from the Western Bulldogs. Picture: Michael Klein

FREMANTLE is the latest club to shut down the Western Bulldogs’ desperate bid to secure an early pick for Jake Stringer.

The Dockers follow Richmond, after the Herald Sun revealed this morning the Tigers had opted to sit out of a draft pick swap that could have helped Stringer get to Essendon.

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Now the Herald Sun can reveal the Dogs approached the Dockers with a renewed plan, with a third club now key to solving the most high-profile deal of the trade period.

Under the proposal, the Bulldogs were happy to pave Stringer’s way to Essendon in exchange for the Bombers’ two second-round selections — 24 and 29.

The Dogs then wanted to hand one of those picks and its first round selection — No.9 — to Fremantle for the Dockers’ pick five.

Richmond won’t help Essendon secure Jake Stringer from the Western Bulldogs. Picture: Michael Klein

Fremantle doesn’t have a pick between five and 40 in next month’s national draft and was seen to have an olive branch, but the Dockers said no.

It’s understood Fremantle’s pick five held appeal at the Bulldogs, who have taken a liking to a midfielder at next month’s national draft.

The Dockers rejection came after Richmond said it also wouldn’t get involved in a three-way deal to solve the Stringer impasse. The Tigers have picks 15 and 17 in the draft which they are holding, in part, to claim father-son midfielder Patrick Naish.

Essendon asked whether the Tigers would trade pick 15 (worth 1112 draft value index points) for the Bombers’ picks 24 and 29 (total 1438).

The draft points could be evened out even more by adding Richmond’s pick 51 (worth 249 points) to the deal, if necessary.

The deal could be a massive help for Essendon because they could offer pick No.15 on to the Bulldogs in return for Stringer.

Recently, respected manager Scott Lucas said he thought pick No.15 would be a fair trade for Stringer.

But the Tigers have indicated they aren’t interested in that deal and want to keep their two top-20 picks for Naish and another highly-rated player.

It leaves the Bombers and Bulldogs looking for another way to secure the Stringer deal before Thursday’s trade deadline.

The Tigers are reportedly hellbent on father-son Patrick Naish. Picture: Stephen Harman

The Stringer camp was left shellshocked by Essendon’s decision on Thursday morning to trade pick 11 — which the Bulldogs had demanded for Stringer — to secure Devon Smith from Greater Western Sydney.

The Dogs’ determination to work the best deal is both admirable and a sign that the chances of Stringer returning to the kennel are extremely remote.

Stringer has told confidants he would rather sit out a year of football if faced with the reality of having to return to the Whitten Oval, but history says that’s a threat that is rarely followed through.

The mercurial, yet flawed, forward, leaves this week on a holiday to the US.

Stringer’s manager, Paul Connors, yesterday told the Herald Sun: “We’re committed to Essendon and that’s what we’re going to do. But it’s tricky. But we’re confident it will be done.”

Essendon have been given Stringer’s word that he will improve his fitness and training standards over summer so he can spend more time in the midfield.

Geelong could send a similar request to Richmond if the Cats decided to jump back into the Stringer race, as part of an even sweeter points boost for the Tigers.

The Cats already have pick No.21 and could secure pick No.19 as first-round free agency compensation for Steve Motlop if he moves to Adelaide or Port Adelaide.

Geelong could bundle those two selections together (worth 1793 points) in exchange for Richmond’s pick No.15 and a later pick, or midfield-forward Sam Lloyd.

The Cats have been identified as a potential new home for Lloyd if the Cats lose Motlop and fellow goal kicker Daniel Menzel.

Originally published as Richmond, Fremantle rebuff three-way deal involving Bulldog Jake Stringer