By Peter Ryan
Josh Dunkley’s manager Liam Pickering has described the Western Bulldogs’ threat of making Dunkley enter the pre-season draft if they don’t get two first-round picks for the 25-year-old as “ludicrous”, in a deal that looks set to drag on.
Dunkley failed to get to Essendon two years ago during the trade period when the Bombers refused to offer two first-round picks for the contracted Bulldog, but Pickering said the circumstances were entirely different as the reigning best-and-fairest winner was now out of contract.
The Bulldogs were incensed when the Lions traded out pick 15 in a pick swap that saw their highest pick become pick 21 as they sought points to cover bids that will come for father-son prospects Will Ashcroft and Jaspa Fletcher.
Josh Dunkley remains hopeful of getting to Brisbane in the trade period but the Bulldogs are standing firm. Credit: Getty
“That would be ludicrous … [if they do that] they get nothing for him,” Pickering told SEN.
“Now that’s just cutting off your nose to spite your face. ”
Pickering said he hoped Dunkley’s relationship with coach Luke Beveridge would ensure the Bulldogs did not send him to the pre-season draft, suggesting it would be “a poor reflection” on everyone if that happened.
The Bulldogs have said they are steadfast in their commitment, with the list management committee signing off on the pledge to stay the course to get two first-round picks, given that the Lions could not offer a pick inside the top 10, which they think is Dunkley’s value.
A club source said they would be prepared to pick Dunkley ahead of the Lions in the pre-season draft, welcoming him back to the fold and keeping him off a premiership contender’s list. Pickering said that he still expected a deal to get done, but did not expect the issue to be resolved until close to Wednesday’s deadline.
“I don’t know whether they are bluffing or not. I know what they want, and I know what Brisbane has offered, so they need to work through it - the two of them,” Pickering said.
“I think it should be getting done.
“I don’t think the Bulldogs fans would be all that thrilled if they let him go for nothing to make a point. You make a point that you are [actually] weakening your draft hand.”
Meanwhile, Geelong rejected an offer from Collingwood to trade Oliver Henry to the club after the Cats secured pick 25 in a pick swap with the Lions on Friday and are certain to obtain pick seven from the Gold Coast next week as part of the Jack Bowes deal.
Collingwood offered to trade Henry, pick 16 and pick 41 to Geelong for pick seven and 25. However, the Cats rejected the deal. The Cats had used pick 18 to get Tanner Bruhn from the Giants on Friday and remain optimistic they will achieve a deal to obtain Henry, who wants to live in Geelong and play alongside his brother.
Oliver Henry wants to play for Geelong.Credit: Getty Images
The Magpies, however, want a first-round pick in return for the uncontracted Henry, who was chosen with pick No.17 in the 2020 national draft. They are frustrated to be losing him just two years after. Geelong still have a future first-round pick but having traded out their future second-round pick they would need to trade in a future pick under current AFL rules. To this point, they believe pick 25 being at the heart of the offer is the best they can do.
The mega deal that drew together North Melbourne, Port Adelaide and West Coast and attracted the attention of Greater Western Sydney and the Brisbane Lions is shaky, with Port Adelaide set to deal with individual clubs in an effort to land Jason Horne-Francis from North Melbourne and Junior Rioli from West Coast. Port sought permission to trade more future picks than were allowed under the rules but were denied an exemption.
The Kangaroos remain open to discussions about their number one pick, but it may have to be separate to any deal involving Horne-Francis. The Lions were hoping to become involved to secure a suitable pick for Hawthorn’s Jack Gunston with the Hawks keen on young Dockers ruckman Lloyd Meek.
With no trades lodged on the weekend there are all sorts of permutations being considered as clubs come together for the draft combine and the state combine.
Luke Jackson, Brodie Grundy, Gunston, Dunkley, Henry, Jacob Hopper, Izak Rankine, Esava Ratugolea, Horne-Francis, Rory Lobb and Tom Mitchell are all entering the week uncertain whether they will be playing at new clubs next season.
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