Bluff game puts stars in limbo

FREMANTLE must back down from a dramatic game of bluff on Jesse Hogan and Lachie Neale or a handful of star players will be stuck in limbo next year.

Dockers football boss Peter Bell yesterday said the Dockers had pulled out of the Hogan race because of Melbourne’s unrealistic trade demands.

That statement came at the same time Dockers chief executive Steve Rosich was indicating they were interested in Hogan but not at any price.

It suggests the Dockers could still back down in coming days, with Hogan’s management adamant Fremantle had been obsessed with his return for years. Melbourne has asked for two first-round picks and been offered only pick 11 and a future second-round pick.

With five days left in the trade period, the Dockers are holding up deals for Neale, Hogan, Steven May and a potential pick swap between Gold Coast and Adelaide.

Fremantle trading Neale to Brisbane for pick 5 would allow the Dockers to on-trade it to Melbourne for Hogan, who would then hand it to Gold Coast for skipper Steven May.

The Dockers are demanding 5 and a second first-round pick for Neale, which the Lions have absolutely no intention of coughing up.

The impasse could lead to the disastrous situation where Neale, Hogan and May could all have to stay put.