AFL Trade Period Day 4: All the moves and news

Essendon star Orazio Fantasia left everyone hanging as he reportedly sought a trade — but, at the last minute, one club was left at the altar.

Orazio Fantasia has given up on a trade.

Essendon star Orazio Fantasia’s reported trade backflip headlines a chaotic day of the AFL Trade Period on Thursday.

Fantasia had seemed all but certain to request a trade to Port Adelaide this week — after earlier this week locking down a new manager, who is based in Adelaide.

However, it emerged on Thursday afternoon that he has now given up on a trade to Port Adelaide and will be returning to Essendon next season, having never officially requested the trade to the Power.

The Crows were also reported to be considering their interest in the Bombers star.

However, Fox Sports reported on Thursday Fantasia has had a change of heart about returning to Adelaide and will be at Essendon in 2020, despite the awkwardness of the hoops he forced Essendon to jump through this trade period.

Orazio Fantasia is set to stay at the bombers. He isn’t 100 percent committed to leaving, and I think the indecision has worn everyone out. The Bombers appear set to keep him. And trade Daniher. More to follow @7NewsMelbourne

— Tom Browne (@TomBrowne7) October 10, 2019

Fantasia’s lack of decisiveness and clarity over his decision had left Essendon “annoyed” as they waited for a call on the contracted forward’s future.

“He was supposedly going to get his head around making a decision yesterday,” AFL Trade Radio reporter Damian Barrett said.

“He is all over the place and it has annoyed the Essendon Football Club, it’s annoyed the managers who he canvased for his services, he now has a third manager in the Adelaide-based Michael Doughty.

“Yesterday was meant to be the day and ideally for Essendon it would have been yesterday to at least get some clarity in what they want to do.”

Fantasia has reportedly angered both his suitors with the Power reportedly filthy that Fantasia left them at the altar after talking regularly with Port Adelaide since the middle of the season.

The Herald Sun reports Port Adelaide is unlikely to pursue a trade for Fantasia at the end of the 2020 season after he blindsided them with his return to Essendon on Thursday.

The report claims Port were left “frustrated” and “bemused” after organising a deal that would have seen Power star Sam Powell-Pepper traded to the Bombers in exchange for Fantasia.

All of those negotiations are now for nothing.

Orazio Fantasia is staying.

CARLTON has reportedly agreed to give up pick No. 9 to the Swans in exchange for star small forward Tom Papley. The deal was first reported on AFL Trade Radio. It remains unclear if Sydney will be forced to give a pick back to the Blues in order to get the deal done. The Papley trade will allow the Swans to pass on picks No. 5 and No. 9 to the Bombers as they continue to negotiate a trade for Dons forward Joe Daniher.

THE GIANTS and St Kilda have agreed to a pick-swap. With the Saints linked to a string of big-name stars this trade period, the deal with the Giants is expected to give the club more barganing power to pull off moves for Zac Jones, Brad Hill, Dougall Howard and others.

The deal sees the Saints surrender picks No. 6 and No. 59 in exchange for the Giants’ picks at No. 12 and No. 18.

CROWS MIDFIELDER Brad Crouch is reportedly looking to cash in on a breakout season in which he secured his first club best and fairest by leveraging his free agency next year.

Sam McClure told AFL Trade Radio the 25-year-old has met with St Kilda and Gold Coast as his future remains a focal point.

McClure: Brad Crouch has had meetings with the Saints and the Suns. He's a free agent at the end of next year. He wants seven figures.#AFLTrade

— Telstra AFL Trade Radio (@traderadio) October 10, 2019

Dal: Would Brad Crouch fit into the Carlton midfield?

McClure: Yes, but they don't want to pay him $1 million.#AFLTrade

— Telstra AFL Trade Radio (@traderadio) October 10, 2019

Crows list manager Justin Reid addressed the situation on Triple M radio earlier this week and indicated both parties needed time.

“Brad wants to sit down with the new coach … and likewise we need a bit of guidance (from) the new coach (before offering) a long-term deal,” Reid said.

Adelaide expects to appoint a new senior coach within a week.

Adelaide ran all its coaching contenders through a final round of interviews yesterday. Matthew Nicks - the senior GWS assistant - in it up to his eyeballs. They liked Adam Kingsley. Most say Nicks gets it.

— Sam Edmund (@SammyHeraldSun) October 9, 2019

Crouch enjoyed a career year in 2019, winning the Crows’ yellow jacket with 208 votes ahead of Rory Sloane (203) and last year’s winner Rory Laird (191).

In other trade news as the period enters day four:

GRANT BIRCHALL is heading to Brisbane. The Hawks only offered the free agent a rookie contract, per AFL Media’s Mitch Cleary, prompting him to seek greener pastures. He’s signed a one-year deal with the Lions with the opportunity to extend. “The plan is to get him up there for a two to three year period — and Grant thinks he has that much footy left in him,” Birchall’s manager Shane Casley told AFL Trade Radio.

Rory Laird puts the yellow jacket on Brad Crouch. Picture Mark Brake

DOUGAL HOWARD’s declaration he wants to be traded to St Kilda has been met strongly by Power football manager Chris Davies. “Dougal is aware that he is a highly valued, required player at Port Adelaide,” Davies said. “Given he is contracted to the end of 2022, the club will only entertain a trade with St Kilda if it is in our best interests to do so. We will discuss the situation with the Saints but if a suitable outcome for our club cannot be reached, Dougal is well aware that he will remain a Port Adelaide player in 2020.”

AFTER SEALING a deal to send Tim Kelly to West Coast on Wednesday, Geelong’s talks with St Kilda over Jack Stevens haven’t been as smooth. The Cats only want to cough up pick 37 for the veteran midfielder, which doesn’t appear enough for the Saints. “There is every possibility that Jack Steven will be staying with St Kilda,” Cats list boss Steven Well told AFL Trade Radio. “They’ve got a good player there that had a tough year (this year). Under the right circumstances, we’d be happy to take Jack on down at Geelong but we might not be able to come to a deal there.”