The Bulldogs are reportedly willing to use the pre-season draft if Brisbane won’t give in, as the final day of free agency arrives.
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6AM — BULLDOGS WILLING TO USE DRAFT OPTION ON DUNKLEY
The Western Bulldogs are reportedly willing to use the pre-season draft if Brisbane doesn’t raise its offer for Josh Dunkley.
The club was said to be “irate” at the state of trade talks yesterday, especially after the Lions traded away their first pick (No.15) to GWS for a second-round pick this year and next.
The Bulldogs want two first-round selections, and Brisbane is only willing to send their current top pick (No.21) and their 2023 first-rounder if they get 30 and 39 back.
That is because the Lions need draft points to match bids on No.1 prospect Will Ashcroft plus likely late-first rounder Jaspa Fletcher. They could keep Pick 21, which they received from the Giants, and trade it away on draft night if a bid comes for Ashcroft at No.1 for more points.
But with neither side looking interested in involving a player in the deal, multiple outlets have reported the Bulldogs would be willing to use the pre-season draft – potentially keeping Dunkley in the process.
The pre-season draft is risky, as any club can pick up the player, going in reverse order of last season’s ladder (just like the original national draft order).
However players can nominate their contract terms, as seen when Carlton nabbed Jack Martin, the ex-Sun heavily front-loading his contract with around $1 million in his first season, meaning few rivals had the capability to fit him under the cap if they picked up.
Essendon could be the big beneficiary if Dunkley heads to the pre-season draft, as they were in talks to land him two years ago and have significant cap space.
The Bombers would pick before Port Adelaide, who Dunkley also considered this year, with the Bulldogs (who could redraft him) and Brisbane coming after that.
Brisbane footy boss Danny Daly sounded optimistic a deal could still be worked out to get Dunkley to the Gabba across the next six days.
“We feel like we‘re on track to get the deal done at some stage, but out of respect for the Dogs I can’t go into what that looks like at the minute. We’re working towards that at the minute and hopefully it will all be ticked off in the next few days or so,” Daly told Trade Radio on Thursday.
The Lions are also looking to work out a trade for Jack Gunston, who is a free agent, because trading for him would ensure their compensation pick for losing Dan McStay is not weakened.
They would likely send a pick in the 40s or 50s to Hawthorn for the veteran goalkicker.
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