Trade period is set for frenetic finish

JOE Daniher’s wish to join Sydney heads a lengthy list of AFL trade negotiations ahead of the Wednesday night deadline.

Essendon has dug its heels in over the All-Australian key forward, saying the Swans will have to make an attractive offer for them to let him go.

The Bombers are after a top player and, so far, the two clubs look a long way off reaching a deal.

Essendon small forward Orazio Fantasia has already confirmed he is staying after strong speculation of seeking a trade to Port Adelaide.

As well as the Daniher impasse, Sydney’s Tom Papley is one of three small forwards keen to join Carlton.

Gold Coast’s Jack Martin also wants a trade and Adelaide veteran Eddie Betts is expected to return to his old club.

There’s a trade logjam at St Kilda, with a number of incoming and outgoing deals yet to be finalised.

Key forward Josh Bruce wants to join the Western Bulldogs. The Saints have hinted they want to bring in Fremantle speedster Brad Hill, but those talks hit a major snag last week.

Port Adelaide pair Paddy Ryder and Dougal Howard and Sydney’s Zak Jones are also linked to St Kilda.

The Bulldogs are eyeing Adelaide defender Alex Keath, but off-season surgery for a stress fracture has complicated that scenario.

Geelong has been linked to Fremantle’s Hill but reports Sam Menegola could move west have been described as wide of the mark.

While Hill is considered most likely to be at St Kilda by the end of the trade period, the Cats are understood to have moved into the frame as a contingency club in the wake of a breakdown in negotiations between the Dockers and Saints this week. It is expected Geelong would have to shed a player to provide for Hill’s hefty wage demands.