AFL 2022: League rejects Port Adelaide’s wish to trade future first- and second-round picks for Jason Horne-Francis

The proposed megadeal that could have unlocked a series of player moves is in jeopardy after the AFL refused to bend its rules.

Jason Horne-Francis’ wish to join Port Adelaide has hit a roadblock. Picture: Getty Images

The AFL has rejected Port Adelaide’s bid to sidestep league rules and trade future first- and second-round picks to bring Jason Horne-Francis to Alberton.

Clubs can trade multiple future selections as long as a first-round pick is not involved but the complexities of various brewing deals this fortnight led Power officials to ask if there was a way around those regulations.

Another option is for Port Adelaide to trade in an extra first- or second-round pick but that would almost certainly require it to trade a player with currency.

Victorians Zak Butters, Josh Sinn, Xavier Duursma and Miles Bergman all fit that bill but the Power does not want to lose any of them.

Could Zak Butters help deliver Jason Horne-Francis to Port Adelaide? Picture: Getty Images

The news is a setback to plans for a four-club megadeal that emerged on Friday night and would have involved Port Adelaide, North Melbourne, West Coast and Greater Western Sydney.

The Giants were set to score pick one, the Kangaroos selections two, three and possibly Port’s future first-rounder, the Eagles Nos.8 and 12, plus Horne-Francis and Junior Rioli would have arrived at the Power.

The idea was for a series of pick swaps this year and next to round out the deal, including Port Adelaide’s future second-round selection.

GWS could also pivot to trade picks three and 12 – plus potentially a later selection as a sweetener – in return for North Melbourne’s No.1, which may be used on promising key forward Aaron Cadman.

Junior Rioli wants to cross from West Coast to Port Adelaide. Picture: Getty Images

Roos list boss Brady Rawlings has so far been adamant they expect more from Port than its pick eight and future first-round selection to broker a trade for Horne-Francis, last year’s top pick.

They could choose to hold Horne-Francis to his contract and try to change his mind but that remains unlikely.

The Power also hopes to convince Geelong to trade contracted defender Esava Ratugolea to them in the coming days.

There has been difficulty finding common ground between West Coast and Port Adelaide on Rioli, too, who the Eagles remain disappointed to be losing.