Ollie Henry won’t play for Collingwood in 2023, with the 20-year-old prepared to head to the draft if a deal can’t be struck with Geelong on the final day of the trade period.
Henry requested a trade to the Cats ahead of the trade period, but Collingwood has driven a hard bargain for the forward, who they selected with pick No.17 in the 2020 draft.
Foxfooty.com.au has confirmed AFL Media’s report that Henry is set on getting to Geelong, with a move back to the Pies out of the question.
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Geelong offered Collingwood pick No.25 for Henry, but the Pies rejected that offer.
The Cats could secure pick No.33 from Port Adelaide in exchange for want-away utility Esava Ratugolea, with that and pick No.25 then being offered up to Collingwood.
Still, the Pies have indicated even that won’t be enough to get a deal done.
Geelong secured pick No.7 from Gold Coast as part of a deal for Jack Bowes, but the club is determined to take the selection to the draft, with midfielder Jhye Clark on their radar.
Collingwood could offer Geelong its pick No.16 and Henry in exchange for pick No.7, but the Cats are unwilling at this stage to accept such an offer.
Should Henry join Geelong, the Cats will have brought in three former top-20 draft picks and another with its first-round selection in this year’s draft.