Swans have work cut out to get Joe
ESSENDON and Sydney have made a frosty start to AFL trade week over Joe Daniher.
The Bombers key forward wants a trade to the Swans, but Essendon list manager Adrian Dodoro said it’s up to Sydney to make a good enough offer. Dodoro also said their preference is for Daniher to stay and he shapes as the biggest story of the trade period.
Also yesterday, St Kilda confirmed it is talking to Ben King’s management as it tries to reunite him with his twin brother Max.
The Saints are making no secret of their bid to lure Ben away from Gold Coast if he decides not to extend when his contract expires next season.
St Kilda recruited Max with the No. 4 pick in last year’s draft and Ben went to the Suns at No.6.
Hawthorn’s Grant Birchall, meanwhile, has met Brisbane coach Chris Fagan as the Lions weigh up a move for the veteran defender. Birchall’s footballing future remains up in the air with the Hawks and Lions yet to formally offer the left-footer a contract.
Birchall, 31, discussed a possible move north with Fagan when he went to the Gabba to watch Luke Hodge’s last game in the semi-final loss to Greater Western Sydney.
While Birchall and fellow Hawk Paul Puopolo are in limbo, Jon Patton will arrive from the Giants for a late pick.
Hawks football boss Graham Wright yesterday shut down all talk on leadership group member Isaac Smith, saying he was contracted and wouldn’t be moving on.
Late yesterday afternoon, Melbourne secured GWS free agent Adam Tomlinson and are also confident of securing Ed Langdon from the Dockers.
Elsewhere, North Melbourne and St Kilda are preparing bids for Port Adelaide swingman Dougal Howard as the Power tall considers a move to Victoria.
The Roos have honed in on the 23-year-old as they chase defensive reinforcements after the retirement of Scott Thompson.
Howard, who spent the last three weeks of this year in the SANFL, is yet to declare whether he wants to leave South Australia.
“Dougal is someone that we have been looking at,” North Melbourne coach Rhyce Shaw said yesterday.
“We need a key back and Dougal obviously fits that mould for us,” he said.
“But there is a couple of other players in that area that we might have a look at.”
Linchpin Robbie Tarrant, Majak Daw and developing pair Ben McKay and Sam Durdin will look to fill the hole left after Thompson’s retirement.
The Saints will be one of the busiest clubs during the trade period as they look to secure Paddy Ryder, Zak Jones, Brad Hilland potentially Howard.
“He’s a key-position player that I think is considering his options about where he might end up next year,” St Kilda football boss Simon Lethlean said. AAP, NEWS CORP