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Joe Daniher could be a Lions player by Friday.Credit:Getty Images

If the compensation is of that level it is more likely than not the Bombers would accept the pick and move on. The free agency window opens this Friday when clubs such as Essendon can learn of the offer for their player,discover what the compensation will be and then make a decision.

Daniher was already on a high contract at Essendon and terms comparable to what he has been on would put Essendon in the frame for first-round draft pick as compensation.

The Lions are confident and hopeful the contract is sufficient to avoid a messy trade.

Essendon will be central players in the free agency and trade windows,with a raft of other deals also to work through this off-season.

Adam Saad has requested a trade to Carlton,though early discussions suggest a deal could prove problematic,and bringing in young midfielder Jye Caldwell from the Giants and potentially Josh Dunkley from the Western Bulldogs.

Essendon are very keen on trading for the contracted Bulldogs midfielder,but as yet,Dunkley has not contacted the Dogs asking to be traded and the Bulldogs have insisted he is a required player on a long-term deal and he is going nowhere.

Since Daniher expressed his desire to exercise his free agency rights,Essendon have explored contingencies for players who could come in. Sources suggest there has been some tyre kicking approaches regarding players such as Ben Brown from North Melbourne.

Meanwhile,Brad Crouch's move to St Kilda looks dependent on what compensation Adelaide will receive from the AFL,with the Crows threatening to keep the midfielder if they aren't given access to pick two in the national draft.

Head of football Adam Kelly explained to Trade Radio on Wednesday that this year's draft has many complexities.

"We're obviously hopeful the compensation would be resulting in pick two,and it's only really under those circumstances we would consider matching and looking to force a trade or obtain Brad's services,"he said.

Sources close to Crouch's deal say that St Kilda's offer to him is four years with a trigger for a fifth,worth between $600,000-$650,000 per season.

But that offer would have to increase signficantly for Adelaide to be granted pick two.

"Fortunately,in this situation,Brad's been fairly open about his love of Adelaide and of the footy club,so we don't think it would be a scenario where the player would not be wanting to come back to the club,so we would certainly look to match if it's not resulting in pick two.

"We'll certainly be looking for a better outcome than what that compensation would be if it's not pick two,because[otherwise] it would be end-of-first round or start of second,which because of our ladder position is effectively the same thing.

"That pick itself could push out to the mid-20s after all the Next Generation Academy[bids] come through. We don't see that as adequate compensation for a player of Brad's calibre,so we would certainly be looking at matching."

The Crows also distanced themselves from contracted Essendon forward Orazio Fantasia,who appears destined to return home to South Australia.

"It'd be fair to make that assessment[that he has chosen Port Adelaide]. We haven't heard that directly from Orazio,so it's not our place to say,but we haven't heard from him for a few weeks now."

Melbourne stalwart Nathan Jones will pull on the red and blue again in 2021,signing a one-year contract extension with the club. That will make it 16 seasons for the 32-year-old.

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