Geelong unlikely to complete trades for Jack Watts and Jake Stringer unless trade demands are lowered

GEELONG says it’s unlikely to land Jack Watts or Jake Stringer because their clubs are asking too high a price, but the Cats are more positive about securing Gary Ablett.

Geelong will not give up pick 20 for Melbourne’s Jack Watts. Picture: Getty Images

GEELONG has conceded it won’t be able to complete deals for Jack Watts or Jake Stringer unless their clubs lower their trade demands.

Geelong’s coastal lifestyle appeals to Watts, but the Cats on Wednesday confirmed they would not give up pick their top choice (No.20) for the silky playmaker.

Western Bulldogs have also knocked back the same selection for Stringer.

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Melbourne would prefer a first-round draft choice for Watts, but may have to settle for pick No.28 from Port Adelaide or Geelong’s pick No.33 to find Watts a new home next year.

Cats’ list chief Stephen Wells was confident the club could still secure Gold Coast champion Gary Ablett, but ruled quality youngsters Mitch Duncan, Nakia Cockatoo and Jake Kolodjashnij off-limits to the Suns.

Wells said the Cats would continue to monitor the Watts and Stringer situations, but were otherwise happy to take pick No.20 into the national draft.

“It’s good Jack has some interest in Geelong as one of his potential suitors and we certainly have some interest in Jack,” Wells said.

“We don’t like to commit to a player ... unless we think we can get the deal done with the other club that is involved.

The Cats are baulking at Melbourne’s asking price for Jack Watts. Picture: Getty Images

“We have had good conversation with Melbourne and (list chief) Todd Viney has made it clear what they would be expecting for Jack from us.

“But at this stage we don’t think we will be able to do that deal, so we don’t want to give Jack any false hope or waste anybody’s time.”

The Dogs made enquiries with the Cats about possibly involving a quality player, such as Cockatoo, in a Stringer trade.

But Wells said a deal on Stringer was now unlikely, leaving Essendon in the box seat if it parts with pick No.11 for the All-Australian forward.

“We investigated Jake and thought we would be a good club for him,” Wells told the league website.

“The problem we were always going to have was trying to do that deal with the Bulldogs.

“We have pick 20 in the draft and were really keen to keep that pick, we’re not saying it’s totally off the table but it would have to be a really good deal for us to part with that.

“Jake might have been a good player to part with pick 20, but the Bulldogs made it clear that wasn’t going to get the deal done.”

Jake Stringer is unlikely to be at Geelong next year. Picture: Michael Klein

Ablett, 33, will retire from football if he can’t make it to the Cats before next Thursday’s trade deadline.

Wells said it could be the only transaction the Cats make this trade period.

“We’ve got our limits as to how far we can go as well,” Wells said.

“We’ve expressed those to Gold Coast … hopefully what we’re willing to give up and what Gold Coast are willing to take will cross paths at some time in the next week or so.

“I’m encouraged by what Scott Clayton said on Monday … but right now, we’re a bit apart.

“Some aspects of their requests we can meet, and are happy to do so.

“We’re headed in the right direction.”