AFL Trades 2020: Adam Saad, Orazio Fantasia deals fall over, Brad Crouch exposes AFL farce

Two of Essendon’s high-stakes trades reportedly fell apart on Tuesday, while the Crows left commentators staggered with a day of silence.

Adam Saad will get his move.

Essendon’s high-profile trades with Carlton and Port Adelaide have reportedly fallen apart the day before the official start of the AFL Trade Period.

It comes as star midfielder Brad Crouch’s future grew increasingly uncertain following Adelaide’s day of silence on Tuesday.

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The Bombers are reportedly miles away from deals over wantaway stars Adam Saad and Orazio Fantasia following their decisions last month to officially request trades away from Essendon.

The Herald Sunreports Carlton wants the Bombers to hand over a high draft pick to sweeten the deal that would see the Bombers let Saad leave in exchange for Carlton’s No. 8 overall pick at this year’s draft.

However, the report claims the Bombers won’t budge on the offer of a straight swap of Saad for the Blues’ first round selection.

Adam Saad is stuck in the middle.

Essendon reportedly offered Saad — who has finished in the top three of the club’s best-and-fairest the past two years — a whopping five-year deal worth $700,000 a season, but he still wants to go to Carlton.

It comes on the same day the Bombers talks with the Power also reportedly fell flat with Essendon rejecting Port’s offer of pick No. 28 in exchange for Fantasia being released from the final year of his deal to move to South Australia.

The Age first reported the Dons rejected the offer and are demanding a first round pick that would see the Power have to perform some major wheeling and dealing.

Port Adelaide head of football Chris Davies confirmed last week the Power are Fantasia’s preferred destination after he had also been linked with the Crows.

BRAD CROUCH ‘FARCE’ DEEPENS

Adelaide's Brad Crouch.

The mystery surrounding Adelaide’s negotiations for star midfielder Brad Crouch has deepened with footy legends bemused by the club’s silence on Tuesday.

The Crows’ window to match the reported monster offer Crouch has agreed to with St Kilda is running out — leaving the club to lick its wounds after the AFL reportedly ruled the club would only receive a free agency compensation pick at the start of the second round of this year’s draft.

The Saints’ offer for Crouch is between $700-$800,000 a season, according to Jay Clark and Reece Homfray. However Fox Footy’s Tom Morris says the deal is closer to $600,000 a season over four-years.

Adelaide had been hopeful of landing pick two as compensation for losing Crouch, but those dreams were dashed on Sunday.

The Age’s Daniel Cherny reported the Crows were not offered pick two after receiving the offer from St Kilda. AFL media’s Mitch Cleary noted the Crows were offered a second round compensation pick for Crouch.

However, the Crows failed to make a move publicly on Tuesday, leaving footy commentators staggered.

“What’s the hold up for the Crows? Why haven’t they matched this yet?” Power great Kane Cornes asked on Trade Radio.

“Have the Saints bluffed them out of it, because (Simon) Lethlean from the Saints said they’re not trading, so you can match it, but you’ve got to be prepared to take the player that’s been shopping himself around for the last couple of years.”

Former Crows player and radio personality Stephen Rowe said on FIVEaa the AFL’s free agency compensation formula has become a farce.

“I think it’s time for the AFL to come clean and give us categorically the formula or the considerations for the five compo bands. I think it’s a farce,” he said.

Crouch made public comments on Tuesday, piling pressure on the Crows to let him walk without the club matching St Kilda’s free agency offer in a move to force a negotiation with the Saints.

“I’ve told St Kilda I’m fully committed to them, so I want to see that out,” Crouch told reporters at Adelaide Airport.

“At this stage I just want to be at St Kilda and the decision I’ve made (is) I’m fully committed to them.”