Two of the AFL's most respected coaches have predicted this week's annual trade period will be one of the quietest on record, given clubs' reluctance to give up first-round draft picks in exchange for players due to the fact this year's national draft will be the last uncompromised draft before the introduction of the new Gold Coast and Western Sydney teams.
With top 20 draft picks to become increasingly rare in coming seasons - as the bulk of them will go to the new teams - clubs are desperate to hang onto their top draft choices in this year's draft at any cost.
Western Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade is predicting little will happen over the next five days with the AFL trade period to run through until early Friday afternoon.
"I don't think we will be super active and I don't think many clubs will be and with the draft the way it is I think it will be a quiet week," he said.
Adelaide coach Neil Craig agreed with Eade.
"You talk to every club and what is their standard line - a round one pick is out so to try and do any deal underneath that always becomes difficult," he said.
Craig said the only way trade deals were likely to get done this season is if clubs agree to swap players.
"If you have got two clubs that have got (players) like for like, that is often where deals get done," he said on Monday.
Craig ruled out releasing highly-rated duo Brent Reilly and Jonathon Griffin amidst speculation the pair - who hail from Victoria and Western Australian respectively - may be seeking moves interstate.
And the Bulldogs have not given up hope of retaining pacy midfielder Farren Ray - who was taken at pick four in the 2003 national draft - even though the 22-year-old has requested a move after being dumped during the finals.
"Farren as we have stated is a required player," Eade said on Monday.
"We would certainly like to keep him but obviously he has stated he would like to look elsewhere."
"So we will obviously listen to clubs' (offers) but if there is not what we think he is worth on the table then we will try to convince him to stay with us."