Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley says the Power will not trade for Jaeger O’Meara

KEN Hinkley has ruled out a play on Gold Coast midfielder Jaeger O’Meara insisting the Power will keep rather than trade its first-round draft pick.

Jaeger O'Meara. Photo: David Clark

PORT ADELAIDE coach Ken Hinkley has ruled out a play on Gold Coast midfielder Jaeger O’Meara insisting the Power will keep rather than trade its first-round draft pick.

Hinkley, a former Gold Coast assistant coach, is instantly linked to any player move at the Suns, more so since last year’s successful move on key forward Charlie Dixon.

But he has dispelled claims the Power already has scouted and approached O’Meara as Port Adelaide seeks a refit of its inconsistent midfield.

SUN OUT: JAEGER O’MEARA REQUESTS TRADE FROM GOLD COAST

O’MEARA TRADE: CARLTON, ST KILDA, ESSENDON AMONG CLUBS IN RUNNING

“No, no, no ... I don’t know where Jaeger is going and I have no idea what he is up to,” said Hinkley as the Power travelled to the Gold Coast for their AFL home-and-away season closer.

“I had a little time with Jaeger (as a Suns assistant coach) — and he has made a decision. As any football club, you have a look and see what happens ... but we’re taking our first-round draft pick and we are going to the draft.”

Gold Coast is steadfastly declaring it wants at least two first-round draft picks for 22-year-old O’Meara, who is on the comeback from a serious knee injury and seemingly destined for a Victorian-based AFL club.

Port Adelaide will not trade for Jaeger O'Meara. Picture Glenn Hampson

O’Meara, the AFL Rising Star award winner in 2013, has not played an AFL game — to add to his 44 games with the Suns — since damaging a knee in 2014.

Gold Coast chairman Tony Cochrane on Thursday declared: “The club traded two first-round selections to the GWS Giants to secure Jaeger as a 17-year-old, spent 12 months developing him prior to him being eligible to make his AFL debut, saw him impress on the field in his first two seasons and have then spent the last two seasons investing time and resources into rehabilitating his knee following multiple surgeries with the club’s utmost support.

“With that being the case, Jaeger is on the market to a club that can provide us compensation we are prepared to accept.

“It’s the right time for the club to make a stance.”

Originally published as Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley says the Power will not trade for Jaeger O’Meara