Port prepared to walk away from Orazio Fantasia, Geelong makes move in Jeremy Cameron’s $4.5m trade stand-off
Port Adelaide are reportedly set to walk away from one of its most coveted trade target as a Bombers star could slip through their fingers again.
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It’s been a big day without any massive deals on the trade market with moves in some of the big deals.
Geelong has come back with a huge offer to break its stalemate with GWS over Jeremy Cameron after the restricted free agent expressed a desire to join the Cats next year.
The Giants became the first club in free agency history to match a rival club’s offer after Geelong tabled Cameron a deal worth a reported $4.5 million over five years.
But it’s still in a stalemate after the Giants rejected the move quickly. It’s not the only move made today however.
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This afternoon, the Bombers and Port Adelaide are gridlocked in discussions over Orazio Fantasia with Port Adelaide reportedly ready to walk away from the negotiating table.
Fox Footy reported the deal on the table at the moment is Pick 29 – Port Adelaide‘s highest pick – while the Bombers are seeking a first-round pick or an established player.
Late last week, it was revealed that the Bombers had asked for one of Ollie Wines, Xavier Duursma, Mitch Georgiades, Todd Marshall or Zak Butters in exchange for Fantasia.
But Port Adelaide don‘t have a first rounder left in their picks after trading it in 2019 “to bank selections so they could secure Next Generation Academy prospect Lachie Jones”, Tom Morris reported.
Port Adelaide also don‘t want to part with any future picks.
However, while it may seem like payback for Fantasia dodging a return to South Australia in 2019.
It‘s been a busy day without any massive moves with Richmond’s Jack Higgins has reportedly officially requesting a trade to St Kilda as well.
The small forward miss out on the Tigers‘ finals run and is after more opportunities in a senior team
“Over the weekend, Jack (Higgins) got in touch with the coach (Damien Hardwick) and (Tigers list boss) Blair Hartley and asked if he could seek a trade,” Higgins’ manager Paul Connors told Trade Radio.
“He has a year left on his contract, but he just wants to play footy and he’d love the opportunity at the Saints.”
The Tigers have reportedly rejected a future second-round pick for the move.
Brisbane ruckman Stefan Martin will move to the Western Bulldogs after reports it‘s been agreed but it’s still unclear how it’ll happen.
Port Adelaide are also reportedly keen on the Swans‘ Aliir Aliir.
BITTER THREAT AFTER $4.5M TRADE REJECTION
Channel 7 AFL reporter Tom Browne said negotiations didn’t advance very far on the weekend as both sides try to secure their dream deal.
“In terms of Geelong, they’re trying to land Jeremy Cameron. There’s not a lot of progress on that over the weekend and if they don’t advance that today or tomorrow, that could be headed, I reckon, for mediation,” Browne told the Triple M Hot Breakfast.
On Twitter, Browne added: “The Giants are holding out hope Cameron will stay. We know players usually get their preference. Jeremy ‘should’ get to Geelong.
“Either way Cameron will get the same money, a fortune, up to $1,000,000 a season. Mediation wouldn’t be out of the question at this rate.”
On Monday afternoon it emerged Geelong had offered GWS two first-round picks as compensation, significantly sweetening the deal for the Sydney club if it loses Cameron. The Cats have picks 13, 15 and 20 in the next draft.
The Giants reportedly want three picks or a player added to the deal.
But Cameron’s manager Alex McDonald told SEN’s Dwayne’s World that if the trade wasn’t worked out now, Cameron and the Cats would look to used the pre-season Draft.
The issue with that move is that the Bombers could sweep in and steal the star if it was able to afford the big money contract.
Cameron is a foundation player at the Giants and has been their leading goal-kicker every season. While GWS is open to a trade, agreeing to terms that suited both parties has been hard work.
“We put forward something to Geelong on the opening day (Wednesday) of the trade period, in writing, so since then Stephen Wells, their list manager, and myself have been having some conversations,” GWS list boss Jason McCartney told ABC Grandstand on the weekend.
“The reason we matched the free agency (offer from Geelong) was we weren’t going to be satisfied with the compensation (No. 11 draft pick) that would be handed out for the calibre of that player.
“Geelong have some assets in regards to players and also some nice selections, we’d be interested in looking at the combination of what we can do in order to facilitate that move.”
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Meanwhile, Collingwood is reportedly interested in poaching Hawthorn veteran Jack Gunston.
The Pies need to loosen some salary cap pressure and have already told Adam Treloar — contracted until the end of 2025 — he’s not wanted next year, while they’re also trying to move on Tom Phillips and maybe even 2018 Rising Star Jaidyn Stephenson and American import Mason Cox.
Gunston was crowned the Hawks’ best-and-fairest winner after an impressive 2020 season and the club is reportedly after a first-round pick should any trade eventuate.
Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd said if he was Hawthorn, he wouldn’t be letting Gunston go, but added Collingwood would be a big winner if it managed to secure the sharpshooter’s services after pushing Treloar out the door.
“Well done Collingwood if you were able to get Adam Treloar out and Jack Gunston in,” Lloyd told AFL Trade Radio.
“He’s the type of player they need. At the end of it all I’d go, ‘OK, now I know why Collingwood were trying to get Adam Treloar out’ because they had Jack Gunston in the wings all along.
“If you can get Adam Treloar out and Jack Gunston in, I think it would be a pretty big win for Collingwood.”
Browne thinks any deal that sees Gunston become a Magpie is unlikely.
“Hard to see Gunston getting done to Pies. Collingwood is keen. But Pies seem to want to go to the draft with any selection they receive for Treloar,” he tweeted.
“I don’t think Gunston is going anywhere. But it’s fact Collingwood are interested. And there is a slim chance he could go to the Pies.”
Originally published as Port prepared to walk away from Orazio Fantasia, Geelong makes move in Jeremy Cameron’s $4.5m trade stand-off