06/10/2008 12:25 PM
Sydney forward Ryan O'Keefe and Essendon speedster Andrew Lovett loom as the two biggest prizes on offer at this week's AFL trade period but the Swans and the Bombers maintained on Monday that neither player will be leaving unless a suitable deal can be reached over the next five days.
With West Coast superstar Daniel Kerr agreeing to a new contract with the Eagles, O'Keefe and Lovett are now the best-credentialed players seeking a move in what is expected to be a quiet trade week due to the reluctance of clubs to give up draft picks in what will be the last uncompromised AFL draft before the addition of new clubs Gold Coast and West Sydney in coming seasons.
While Lovett, who fell out of favour at Windy Hill after twice being dropped for disciplinary reasons, is seeking a move to Sydney, Essendon coach Matthew Knights said the 25-year-old would remain at Essendon if the Bombers don't receive 'a fair offer' for him.
"Sydney have expressed interest in Andrew but until we sit down face to face with Sydney and work out where they are at, we are none the wiser with that," Knights said ahead of Monday's annual trade day when all 16 clubs meet with each other over a four-hour period to kick off trade week.
Knights said the Bombers had 'no minimum or maximum' conditions in mind in terms of a swap for a player who won the 2005 Anzac Day Medal against Collingwood.
"For these deals to happen there are lot of things that have to occur so we will see what evolves this week with Andrew Lovett," he said.
"There has been a perception that Essendon has been hard to deal with (in trade week) over time but we will see whether or not that is the case this week because we want a fair deal whatever the case is (for Lovett) because he still has a year under contract."
The Swans insist only a first-round pick will be enough to secure O'Keefe - who was nominated for this year's All-Australian team and finished fifth in the Swans' best and fairest award.
However Sydney recruiting manager Stuart Maxfield says the club has not yet given up hope of keeping O'Keefe - who turns 28 in January - although Carlton is believed to be leading the charge to secure his services.
"We're just going to wait and see what pans out today," Maxfield said when asked about O'Keefe's future on Monday.
"I think given we rate him really highly as a player and there's no doubt a first-round selection would have to come into play there somewhere."
O'Keefe has already knocked back a new three-year offer from the Swans as he considers a possible return to his native Victoria but Maxfield said the club has not given up hope of keeping one of its best players.
"A lot of things can happen in a short space of time this week so we'll just have to play it by ear at the moment," he said.
As for Lovett, Maxfield confirmed the Swans were definitely interested.
"He's certainly a player we've looked at and we believe he can add some value to our list so if we can acquire him somehow this week we'd be pretty happy," Maxfield said.