AFL premiership contender’s ‘big offer’ for Crows star flips trade saga

Some big news has dropped in the AFL trade market with a premiership contender making a big move on a rival star.

Tom Doedee of the Crows. Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

The Brisbane Lions have prepared a “big offer” for Adelaide free agent Tom Doedee.

Doedee has been linked to Brisbane in recent months with whispers emerging he has spoken to figures at the Lions.

Seven News reporter Mitch Cleary on Tuesday night told Talking Finals, Doedee is “weighing up a big offer from Brisbane”.

The 26-year-old last month publicly expressed his desire to stay at Adelaide, but said last week he was no closer to re-signing with the club because the offer has not met his expectations.

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“The Crows are desperate to keep Tom Doedee. He said that he wants to stay at the Crows, but he’s now weighing up a big offer from Brisbane. He has spoken to the Lions in recent weeks,” Cleary told Channel 7.

“It is always a concern when you get to this stage of the season, the Crows have been out for a week, his season has been finished for the best part of a couple of months after a knee injury – still unsigned. So watch this space.”

Tom Doedee is a man to watch in October. Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

It was just one of several trade developments that dropped on Tuesday night with the Swans emerging as a key player in the upcoming trade period.

Sydney has been linked with several key position players in recent weeks — and fuel was poured on the recent burning rumours that the club is chasing high profile recruits Brodie Grundy and North Melbourne’s Ben McKay.

Sydney CEO Tom Harley on Monday refused to reveal whether his club has met with out-of-favour Demon Grundy, who is widely tipped to request a trade in coming weeks.

Grundy has reportedly met with Port Adelaide and is expected to return to his home state — however, Cleary believes the Swans are still in the race.

It’s no secret Grundy has been out of favour in his first year at Melbourne since he was brutally offloaded by Collingwood last off-season.

It’s why the Swans are reportedly going hard for McKay.

Ben McKay of the Kangaroos. Photo by Michael Klein.

“Everyone at North Melbourne is bracing for him to request a trade,” Cleary said.

“Rival clubs are often a good gauge when it comes to the market for rival players. Sydney is the strong word out of opposition clubs that are leading the race for this man — ahead of Essendon and Hawthorn. Port Adelaide had shown a bit of interest. I think they are further down the path with Esava Ratugolea and a player like (Brandon) Zerk-Thatcher at the Bombers.”

He said the Swans offer will be upwards of $700,000 per season.

It comes after North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson recently warned clubs the Kangaroos will be “fighting to keep” McKay.

Clarkson reiterated the threat to match any offer for the restricted free agent and said even a potential top-five compensation pick would not be used to look at a key defender if he was to depart.

“We want him to stay at our footy club … we reckon his best seven years are going to be the next seven,” Clarkson said.

“If we don’t feel like we’re going to get the compensation necessary for him, then we’ll be fighting for him to stay.

“Take pick 2 or 3 for Ben McKay’s compensation … well, let me know if there’s a six-foot-five, six-foot-six fullback or centre half-back in the draft to replace him – there ain’t.”

McKay was taken with the No. 21 overall pick in the 2015 draft.