Izak Rankine’s impending move to Adelaide will enter the final three days of the trade period after a deal could not be struck on Friday.
The Crows’ pick five in this year’s draft – which will fall back one spot once a bid is matched for Brisbane father-son gun Will Ashcroft – will be the centrepiece of the trade with Gold Coast.
There is no suggestion the deal won’t get done but there are complications around what each club wants, with both of them believed to be more interested in future selections for differing reasons.
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The delay in the Suns’ contentious Jack Bowes-pick seven ‘salary dump’ trade with Geelong is flowing onto the Rankine negotiations, even though the deal is largely agreed upon.
Adelaide has only three vacant list spots, all of which could be used at the draft, including potentially one on father-son prospect Max Michalanney.
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The 192cm defender’s father, Jim, played 211 games for Norwood, one of the SANFL feeder clubs in the Crows’ father-son eligibility.
AFL rules state that clubs need to make a minimum of three draft selections, although rookie upgrades count towards that tally.
The Suns have a batch of promising Academy prospects who are draft eligible next year, most notably key forward Jed Walter – an under-18 All-Australian as a bottom-ager – and giant ruckman Ethan Read.
Gold Coast has already acquired the Giants’ future second-round selection and a 2023 future fourth-round pick from both Fremantle and St Kilda as it prepares to match bids.
