Cats to nut out deal for Bowes

GEELONG will sit down with Gold Coast on Friday to broker a deal on Jack Bowes, with the Suns adamant the Cats will need a second-rounder to trade the No.7 pick as part of the overall package.

The Cats believe they can retain the No.7 pick to head to the draft table and use picks including 18 and 38 to secure deals for Collingwood’s Ollie Henry and GWS mid Tanner Bruhn.

But a key part of the Suns’ trade demands will be to accept a future second-rounder back as part of the Bowes deal.

If the Cats are not prepared to hand back a future selection the Suns will be happy to trade Bowes – and his $1.8m selection – but not the cherished No.7 pick.

The Cats have made clear how much they want Bowes as a player after recommendations from Gary Ablett Jr and Patrick Dangerfield after scouting him for months.

Swingman Esava Ratugolea is keen to get to Port Adelaide after meeting the Power last week but for now has been told Geelong will not trade him.

GWS has not expressed interest in Ratugolea after asking to have him included in the Jeremy Cameron trade, with the 24-year-old aware of Geelong’s statement but keen to play at the Power.

Draft picks 18 and 38 will not be enough for the Henry and Bruhn deals, so trading Ratugolea is one way to secure enough draft collateral to help those deals and use pick 7 at the draft table.

Geelong has told the contracted Ratugolea it is hopeful he can be a regular part of its side next year but with Sam De Koning, Tom Stewart and Jack Henry playing in defence it is hard to see where.

The Power believe he can play all year for them in that role. The Power are busy on deals for Jason Horne-Francis and Willie Rioli but still believe they can come to an agreement on Ratugolea.