Essendon's Adam Saad under pressure.Credit:Getty Images
All suggestions were given short shrift by Carlton list bosses,who believe their existing first-round draft pick – presently eight – on its own is slightly too much for the talented defender.
Sources indicate that Carlton have explored options with Geelong about splitting their first-round pick – Carlton trading their early first-round pick to Geelong for two of the three later first-round picks the Cats have in this year’s draft courtesy of the future picks they received for losing Tim Kelly.
The Blues also have open to them the option of trying to push Saad through the pre-season draft if a trade cannot be achieved with Essendon.
The Blues did that last year when they could not agree a trade with Gold Coasts for the out-of-contract Jack Martin. The difference then was Carlton’s pick was much earlier in the pre-season draft than it is this year so there was less risk that another club would take him before them.
This year Saad would have to get through to pick eight in that draft and bypass Essendon at pick six. The Bombers would undoubtedly threaten to redraft him.
Any club taking a player in the national or pre-season drafts has to accept any contract terms a player could nominate as his requirement if drafted.