TIME is running out as the final week of the NAB AFL Trade period nears its end.
There are still a number of big trade moves yet to be finalised, including Jaeger O'Meara's move to Hawthorn, Bryce Gibbs' homecoming to Adelaide and Dion Prestia's deal to get to Tigerland.
Paperwork can be lodged until the end of trade period at 2pm on Thursday and there appear to be plenty of deals that could be discussed right to the death knell.
Until then, AFL.com.au's Trade Winds will wrap up all of the latest action every morning.
Bombers preparing to drop Jaeger bomb
Essendon is positioning itself to table an offer to Jaeger O'Meara and trump Hawthorn by offering Gold Coast an offer it will find hard to refuse.
The Bombers could snare O'Meara in the pre-season draft, as they hold the No.1 pick, but the Herald Sun reports they could put an enticing draft package together for the Suns which would include next year's first-round selection and two second-round picks.
O'Meara, 22, who nominated Hawthorn as his preferred club, is yet to receive an official offer from the Hawks, according to the newspaper.
That is despite Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson flying to the Gold Coast on Friday to reassure O'Meara that a deal would be done.
Essendon's interest could force the Hawks to up their offer, particularly after AFL.com.au reported the proposed trade of Billy Hartung and Brendan Whitecross to the Brisbane Lions (for pick No.21) had been abandoned.
Hawks build war chest
By trading out club greats Sam Mitchell and almost certainly Jordan Lewis, Hawthorn could construct a million-dollar war chest to attack free agency at the end of next year.
The Age reports trading Mitchell to West Coast and Lewis to Melbourne was not a result of being squeezed for salary cap room to allow for the incoming Ty Vickery, Tom Mitchell and likely Jaeger O'Meara.
Rather, it was a considered plan to create an extra million-dollars space to pursue 2017 top-line free agents.
Gun Fremantle midfielder Nat Fyfe and Richmond star Dustin Martin are players the Hawks could target as the club looks to shape its list profile.
Smedts raised in Tuohy deal
Luckless Geelong utility Billie Smedts could have the opportunity to reignite his career at Carlton.
The Blues brought up his name in discussions with the Cats in regard to Zach Tuohy's desired move to Geelong, The Age reports.
Smedts, 24, who has played 38 games in six seasons at Geelong, could be part of the Tuohy deal after the contracted Darcy Lang expressed his wish not to be traded.
Smedts, who has a year to run on his deal, has had a shocking run with injury since being drafted by Geelong with its first pick (No.15 overall) in the 2010 NAB AFL Draft, but he has natural talent that could be honed in a new environment.
No COLA a factor in Richards' move
Sydney Swans youngster Xavier Richards requested a trade to a Melbourne-based club on Monday and the circumstances around his decision seem to be unique.
The Daily Telegraph reports Richards, the younger brother of Swans premiership player Ted, is sick of the high cost of living in the Harbour City and that is a key factor in his impending move.
"Xavier wanting to leave the Swans has nothing to do with being unhappy with the club," Richards' manager Phil Mullen told the newspaper.
"If you’ve got money to spend you’d get better value in Queensland or South Australia than you do in Sydney. Living in Sydney makes it tough on a lot of players."
Hanley to move to Suns
The deal to send Pearce Hanley from the Brisbane Lions to Gold Coast has been agreed upon.
The three-way trade, according to the Courier Mail, will see the Suns hand over pick No.22 to the Lions and pick No.30 to Port Adelaide, with the Lions to send pick No.19 to Port Adelaide in exchange for a future first-round pick.
The future first-round pick puts the Lions in a strong position to draft talented academy prospect Connor Ballenden next year.
It was Hanley's former teammate Michael Rischitelli who convinced the Suns, after they sought his advice, that the speedy midfielder was worth recruiting, the newspaper reports.
The Suns are set to offer Hanley a three-year deal.
