AFL trade news: Live updates and news from day 3 of AFL trade period
As Geelong and the Bulldogs stand firm on Bailey Smith’s trade value, premiership Dog Caleb Daniel is weighing up a lucrative offer from the Kangaroos.
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Western Bulldogs’ playmaker Caleb Daniel is still considering a lucrative offer to reinvigorate his career at North Melbourne.
The premiership star discussed the potential move with family and friends back home in South Australia over the weekend and was in talks on Monday with his manager Marty Pask.
The Kangaroos are keen to add Daniel’s precision kicking skills for more polish in the back half and could involve pick 25 in a deal to satisfy the Bulldogs for the 28-year-old.
It would be a tempting second-round selection for the Dogs, who don’t have a first-round pick in this year’s draft but could yet snare number 17 from the Cats for Bailey Smith.
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The Saints are also keen on Jack Macrae but are only willing to give up a late pick, such as 47, if they pay all of his salary at Moorabbin.
Daniel would net the Dogs a bigger draft bounty if he elects for a fresh start after a 10-year stint at the Bulldogs including a best-and-fairest in 2020.
The utility enjoyed a strong finish to the season, gathering an average 24 touches in his last three matches of the 2024 season.
The Dogs are unlikely to have any certainty over Smith until the last day of the trade period as the Cats and Dogs stand firm on their demands.
The expectation among clubs is that he would be available at the Cats’ pick 17 if the clubs remained at loggerheads and he slipped through to the national draft.
It makes a rival play for him in the draft almost impossible as clubs would only take him following in-depth discussions about his mental health issues, which Smith has spoken openly about.
There would also have to be medical checks following the knee reconstruction last year, meaning Geelong holds the upper hand in negotiations as Smith is unwilling to discuss his future with any other clubs.
The Cats remain the certain landing spot for Smith after list boss Andrew Mackie said Geelong was keen to strike a trade with the Dogs for the midfielder.
But Geelong is keen to offer its first pick in this year’s draft for Smith rather than multiple top-end selections including a future first-round draft pick.
The Cats would need the future first-rounder to nab Melbourne superstar Clayton Oliver if he became available again either in this trade period or next year.
Oliver is still interested in joining Geelong despite Melbourne’s firm denials.
The Dogs could push the Cats for a pick swap as part of the Smith deal which benefits the Dogs such as exchanging the Dogs’ third-round pick for the Cats’ second-round pick.
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Originally published as AFL trade news: Live updates and news from day 3 of AFL trade period
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