AFL trade news: Live updates and news from day 1 of AFL trade period

Geelong has no qualms sending its first-round pick up the highway for Bailey Smith, but the Bulldogs are keen for more. Catch all the day’s trade news here.

Geelong will attempt to trade pick 17 for Western Bulldogs’ Bailey Smith before considering whether the jet ballwinner would make it to the Cats in the national draft.

The Cats are happy to swap their first-round draft pick but have so far baulked at the Dogs’ demands for a secondary selection as well in exchange for the 23-year-old.

It leaves the two clubs at an early loggerheads with rival clubs expecting the Smith deal to be one of the most protracted and frustrating negotiations of this year’s trade period.

Scroll down to recap all the big moves and what your club said on day one

Dogs’ list boss Sam Power set the tone for the discussions on Monday saying he thought “Bailey was worth a lot” due to his on-field prowess and off-field marketability.

But the Cats may have the upper hand in discussions because of the view rival clubs would be reluctant to use a first-round draft pick on Smith if he slipped through to the national draft.

Smith has been open about some mental health issues which he has faced throughout his career which has included a year-long recovery from a knee reconstruction this season.

Bailey Smith wants to move to Geelong. Picture: Graham Denholm/Getty Images.

This year’s draft is also exciting recruiters for its quality and depth in the first-round, adding to the potential Smith would still be available at the Cats first pick.

Former Collingwood and St Kilda onballer Luke Ball made it to the Magpies at pick 30 in 2009 while ex-Carlton forward Jack Martin was taken by the Blues in the 2019 preseason draft.

Geelong football boss Andrew Mackie said the Cats had every intention of striking a trade with the Dogs, but did not reveal the price the club was prepared to pay.

“I will keep that between Sam and I and those conversations, as I said, it is great that Bailey wants to come, and he is out of contract,” Mackie said.

“Our intention is to do a trade and make sure the Bulldogs are compensated.”

Mackie said Geelong appealed to Smith for a number of reasons after playing on the fringes of the Dogs’ midfield brigade over his career.

The Cats want Smith to play inside the centre square for the first time in his career to bolster their onball options.

Andrew Mackie speaks at Marvel Stadium on Monday. Picture: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

“Bailey has been spending a little bit of time in Geelong over the past couple of years and likes the idea of spending more time down there,” Mackie said.

“On field clearly he has some assets but I think without going into too much detail he gives us flexibility from an on-field point of view.

“There is a lot of water to go under the bridge before he is a Cats’ player.”

Power, who has a reputation as a tough negotiator, said Smith was a quality proposition who the club wanted to keep.

“He (smith) has got all the attributes of the modern game. Can play in the midfield,” Power said.

“We have seen him influence lots of games. Highly marketable.”

Geelong is excited by the potential to help former Blue Jack Martin overcome his soft tissue injuries, while the Dogs are keen to keep Caleb Daniel, who is weighing up his future.

Daniel was taking the weekend to consider his options after losing his spot in the side this year before playing the best football of his season in the last two games.

North Melbourne has made a lucrative offer for Daniel.

Power said the club would also keep Jack Macrae if the Saints didn’t stump up.

“At the end of the day they (Saints) have got to satisfy us in a trade, and Jack is fully across that and understands that if a suitable trade can’t be reached then he will be a Western Bulldogs’ player,” Power said.

Originally published as AFL trade news: Live updates and news from day 1 of AFL trade period