Hamish Hartlett’s decision to stay at Port Adelaide unplugs Power’s draft and trade plans
PORT Adelaide’s search for new blood in the AFL national draft is mired by vice-captain Hamish Hartlett shutting down any trade deal.
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PORT Adelaide’s search for new blood in the AFL draft is mired by vice-captain Hamish Hartlett shutting down any trade deal.
The Power’s 13-man trade bait list has no other player who can command the first or second-round draft picks eagerly wanted at Alberton.
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This hurts Port Adelaide’s mission to fill in the long wait between pick No.9 and 45 at next month’s AFL draft in Sydney — while sitting out the second round after future-trading pick No. 27 to Gold Coast key forward Charlie Dixon last year.
Hartlett, 26, on Thursday became the sensational pre-trade period headline as the midfielder-defender told Port Adelaide he would hold the Power to the five-year contract extension he signed 12 months ago.
After touring several Melbourne-based AFL clubs on Tuesday, Hartlett has closed any prospect of a trade deal with Richmond, Essendon and St Kilda.
Hartlett met Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley and captain Travis Boak at the Grange Golf Club on Wednesday to reaffirm he can return to Alberton as a valued player.
But the Power’s list-management strategy — after acknowledging a need to change its list after missing AFL finals in the past two years — faces a major rethink before trade talks open at Etihad Stadium on Monday.
Port Adelaide football chief Chris Davies reaffirmed the Power will meet its 17 AFL rivals with “an open mind” to deal.
The trade bait list is now topped by contracted ruckman Matthew Lobbe and uncontracted defender Cam O’Shea — neither unlikely to command the much-wanted second-round draft pick.
“The club has to look at how we regenerate the list to become successful,” Davies said.
Richmond reportedly was prepared to hand over its 2017 first-round draft pick for Hartlett — an offer that did not appeal to the Power with its need for next month’s draft.
The Tigers have this year’s first-round draft pick (No. 6) in play for Gold Coast midfielder Dion Prestia.
Essendon reportedly put its second-round draft pick and SA recruit Orazia Fantasia up for Hartlett.
But the Bombers became uneasy on hearing Hartlett’s account of the injuries he has dealt with recently.
St Kilda is not commenting on its play, but the Saints were concerned — particularly while there is still no salary cap for next season — on the $3 million guaranteed in Hartlett’s contract for the next five years.
Hartlett’s manager, Michael Doughty, conceded there was concern on how a trade would unfold.
“Would the clubs get it done? It was not going to be easy,” Doughty said.
“In the end, it came down to Hamish’s decision — he wants to stay at Port Adelaide.”
Doughty expects Hartlett to return to Alberton with no fractured relationships in the coaching and playing groups — particularly after the tough “exit interview” with Hinkley.
“Hamish is a pretty strong person — and honest,” Doughty said.
“He knows he has to change to get the best out of himself.”
Davies insists “there is no way the relationship (with Hartlett) will sour”.
“We’ve had mature conversations with our players,” Davies said.
Lobbe, who has three years to serve his contract, continues to search for an AFL club that is prepared to work him as a No. 1 ruckman.
He has fallen behind Patrick Ryder for this role at Alberton.
“It’s 50-50,” Doughty said of a trade emerging for Lobbe.
“We’re still working through that with a few clubs that are interested. He wants the opportunity to lead the ruck — and with Ryder returning next season, that is limited at Port Adelaide.”
AFL trade talks close at 1.30pm on Thursday week.
Originally published as Hamish Hartlett’s decision to stay at Port Adelaide unplugs Power’s draft and trade plans
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