Nicoski stays at West Coast

West Coast forward Mark Nicoski has signed a one-year contract extension. Source: PerthNow

WEST Coast forward Mark Nicoski has signed a one-year contract extension with the Eagles.

Nicoski could have left the Eagles as an unrestricted free agent, but is understood to have never contemplated such a move.

The 28-year-old spent all of last season on the sidelines with a serious hamstring injury suffered during the NAB Cup Grand Final in March.

Nicoski was expected to miss just half the season, but experienced spasms in the repaired muscle shortly after his first bout of surgery.

The Subiaco product is expected to start pre-season training with the rest of his West Coast teammates next month and the club is confident he will return to the form that saw him kick 41 goals in a breakout 2011 campaign.

Nicoski's signature is good news for the Eagles after three players walked out on the club in the past month.

Veteran forward Quinten Lynch joined Collingwood as a free agent, Tom Swift quit football to pursue a career in medicine and Koby Stevens wants to be traded to the Western Bulldogs.

Defender Mitch Brown is also seeking a trade to St Kilda, but the Eagles have said he is a required player and will not be released.

West Coast remains hopeful of arranging a deal with the Saints for homesick forward Jamie Cripps.

Yesterday, Fremantle announced veteran Adam McPhee had penned a new one-year deal after resiting offers to return to Melbourne.
 

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Trigg steps in to play hardball

Adelaide Crows chief executive Steven Trigg is pushing for the best possible deal with Sydney for Kurt Tippett. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: adelaidenow

ADELAIDE cannot stop key forward Kurt Tippett from playing with AFL premier Sydney next season.

It is either trade the Queenslander by Friday's deadline with "compensation" from the Swans - or lose Tippett for nothing in the draft pool.

From such a weak bargaining positioning, Adelaide's best-case deal is to hit the Swans on the three areas of AFL list management. They are:

SCORE a draft pick - preferably a first-rounder in a draft pool that is considered to run deep. Taking Sydney's No. 23 hurts the Swans and helps Adelaide develop its player list.

GRAB a player - and without Tippett the corridor-running, long-kicking Crows cannot allow defences to double-team Adelaide's new No. 1 forward, Taylor Walker. Out-of-favour Swans forward Jesse White is worth pursuing for a multi-dimensional Adelaide attack.

SQUEEZE the salary cap - and make it difficult for Sydney to strengthen its list beyond adding Tippett.

Adelaide had the first two boxes ticked on Friday afternoon when White was said to have agreed to a two-year deal with the Crows and list manager David Noble was preparing the paper work at AFL House.

Then Adelaide chief executive Steven Trigg returned from Europe - and appears to have hit on the need to make Sydney pay more for Tippett than the $1 million-a-year it has promised the ruckman-forward in the next four seasons.

Asked by adelaidenow yesterday of the mysterious pause to the White deal, Trigg said: "It needed chief executive to chief executive talks to resolve it. And that is (still) happening. We've not killed (the White deal)."

Read that as Trigg putting Sydney chief executive Andrew Ireland under salary-cap pressure to prove the Swans' determination to take Tippett at any cost.

White is on contract to the Swans for next year. It makes good sense for Trigg to demand Sydney keep paying him to that contract while he plays for Adelaide next year.

Some of the pain of losing Tippett is transferred to the Swans' books.

Trigg has done this sort of deal before - in 2003 when then Crows coach Gary Ayres demanded Adelaide bring contracted but out-of-favour Geelong forward Ronnie Burns to West Lakes.

Adelaide - unlike Port Adelaide with Nick Stevens in 2003 when he sought a trade to Collingwood and finished at Carlton - will not stop Tippett being a Swan, but Trigg is making sure Sydney pays on three fronts.

Every Crows fan should feel satisfied that the Adelaide Football Club is passing the test of negotiating in what is the increasingly tough AFL market.

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Slattery keen to revive career in SA

Essendon's Henry Slattery argues with the umpire after giving away a free kick to Hawthorn's Lance Franklin. Slattery is keen to return to SA. Picture: Michael Klein. Source: Herald Sun

STRANDED Essendon defender Henry Slattery says he can offer Port Adelaide experience and leadership as he seeks an AFL lifeline.

Overlooked in this year's free-agent period, Slattery - who has played 96 matches for the Bombers - remains hopeful of being selected in the delisted free agency period next month. And the 26-year-old Croweater is keen to revive his career in South Australia.

"I'm not going to rule anything out," said Slattery, selected by Essendon at No. 46 in the 2004 national draft.

"I'm married and my wife is also from Adelaide so we could easily make the move.

"It will just come down to what happens with my footy."

With Port to be without small defenders Danyle Pearce, Jacob Surjan and Ben Jacobs next season, Slattery could bolster the Power's back six.

The disciplined defender has played on some of the game's best goalsneaks, such as Geelong's Steve Johnson and Carlton's Eddie Betts.

"If it's a defensive role, then so be it. I would love to play that role," said Slattery, who also revealed playing in the SANFL was an option in 2013.

"But it doesn't have to be a negating role even though I've played that for most of my career.

"I can play any role, in the midfield or as a running half-back. So I can play in a variety positions while also providing some leadership and experience to the team."

Slattery now faces a nervous wait like the other South Australian free agent in the mix at Alberton, Carlton's Jordan Russell.

Port was understandably reluctant to pick anyone up during free agency as it would have jeopardised its compensation for those who left the club: Pearce (Fremantle) and Troy Chaplin (Richmond).

Like Slattery, Russell can also provide experience in defence, having played 116 games across eight seasons with the Blues.

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Crows seek fairer trade for Tippett

Sydney's Jesse White during a visit to Adelaide last week. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: adelaidenow

ADELAIDE is creating salary cap relief for itself - and pain for the Swans - as the Kurt Tippett trade hinges on Sydney paying for Jesse White's move to West Lakes.

The Crows already have an in-principle two-year agreement with White, who is parcelled with Sydney's first-round draft pick (No. 23) for the defecting Tippett.

That trade was to have been lodged with at AFL House in Melbourne late on Friday - until Adelaide chief executive Steven Trigg called back Crows list manager David Noble.

Trigg, who had just returned from his holiday in Europe, took the trade out of the Adelaide and Sydney football departments and into the clubs' highest offices.

The bottom line is the original trade was weighted too heavily in Sydney's favour.

And with the Swans remaining a serious barrier to Adelaide's premiership hopes next season, Trigg demanded his Sydney counterpart Andrew Ireland give the Crows salary cap relief.

Had the original deal stood, Adelaide would have:

ABSORBED White's current contract with the Swans.

CUT a contracted Adelaide player, such as midfielder Richard Tambling.

BURNED as much as $300,000 from its $9.14 million salary cap.

White's arrival at West Lakes would over-subscribe Adelaide's list by one player, requiring a Crow to be cut.

By contrast, Sydney would have gained about $300,000 of salary cap relief for moving on White - and used that money to advance its flag defence. This is clearly against Adelaide's interests.

Trigg's push for Sydney to take on the salary pain of moving White to Adelaide is destined to drag talks to Friday's trade deadline.

"I felt the talks had reached the point where it needed to be chief executive to chief executive to resolve (the trade)," said Trigg yesterday.

Trigg confirmed White remains on Adelaide's wish list even after the Crows traded for Richmond ruckman Angus Graham on Friday.

Noble says Adelaide has sought two players to replace Tippett, who worked as a key forward and back-up ruckman for Sam Jacobs.

Graham serves as insurance with Jacobs.

White is to add more dimension to an Adelaide attack that cannot allow its new No. 1 key forward, Taylor Walker, to be double-teamed by defences.

The 24-year-old Queenslander would join Josh Jenkins and Shaun McKernan as talls forward seeking to work in tandem with Walker.

Adelaide has no other trade in play, so the Crows can push White's salary with the Swans until Friday's deadline.

If the deal is not sealed by then, Tippett will move to the draft pool where Adelaide gets no compensation.

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Port backs itself in fresh trade deals

Former Sturt junior Jack Hombsch is returning from GWS to play for Port Adelaide. Picture: Brett Costello. Source: The Daily Telegraph

Jack Hombsch punches the ball away from Brent Thornton. He is heading to Port. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

PORT Adelaide is finding a new defensive line-up in the AFL trade market.

The Power has claimed former Sturt tall defender Jack Hombsch - and sweetened the trade with 17-year-old NT small forward Jake Neade - to ultimately cover the loss of free-agent key defender Troy Chaplin to Richmond.

In return, Port has allowed Greater Western Sydney to continue stockpiling much-valued picks in next month's AFL national draft.

The Giants get Port's second-round pick (No. 29) for 19-year-old Hombsch.

After losing Chaplin, delisting former vice-captain Jacob Surjan and watching Jacobs walk, Port's need for new defensive options is high.

Live: AFL Trades Chat

But Port's play for Fremantle's switch-hitting defender Greg Broughton has cooled after learning how much cash the Docker carries on the last year of his contract. The 26-year-old also wants a long-term deal from a new club.

On the way out of Alberton remains 20-year-old defender Ben Jacobs, a first-round draftee two years ago.

But talks with his preferred Melbourne-based club, North Melbourne, failed to advance yesterday as the Power insisted on draft picks from the Kangaroos rather than players such as small forward Matt Campbell and defender Luke Delaney.

North Melbourne currently has picks Nos. 15, 38 and 39 in the first round of next month's national draft.

"The clock is ticking," said Port football operations manager Peter Rodhe last night.

The Power has until 1.30pm Friday to trade Jacobs or run the risk of losing the Victorian draftee without compensation in next month's draft, where he would be claimed by any of the Kangaroos, Essendon and St Kilda and possibly Richmond.

Port's reputation of chasing South Australians in the trade market continues.

See every deal at Department of Trades

Hombsch was the first SANFL-based player claimed by the Giants when they formed their preliminary squad two years ago.

Originally from Roxby Downs, he played nine AFL games this year.

"We see Jack as being a long-term, strategic replacement for Chaplin in defence," said Rohde.

Hombsch joins to-be-elevated rookie Tom Jonas and 2011 draftee Nathan Blee in the race to be part of Port's new back six.

"I see it as a massive opportunity to try to play some consistent footy back in my home state," Hombsch said.

"I spoke to (new coach) Ken Hinkley the other day and he told me the direction he sees the group heading in and it really confirmed to me what a fantastic club Port Adelaide is and that it has a great future."

 

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Demon a fix for lengthy problem

Ruckman Stefan Martin at Melbourne training. Picture: George Salpigtidis. Source: Herald Sun

BRISBANE has met Melbourne ruckman/forward Stefan Martin as it moves to recruit much-needed tall timber in the dying stages of the AFL's three-week trade period.

Martin, 26, flew to Brisbane yesterday to talk with Lions coach Michael Voss and medical staff.

With Melbourne recruiting Collingwood forward Chris Dawes and possibly North Melbourne's Cameron Pedersen, Martin's role at the Demons could be limited, despite having a year left on his contract.

Several clubs have asked Melbourne about Martin but Brisbane are in the box seat to lure the 57-gamer north as a foil to captain Jonathan Brown.

A draft pick would be enough to see a trade completed by the 1pm Friday deadline.

Martin played only seven games in an injury-riddled 2012 after a breakout 2011 when his mobility, competitiveness and versatility stood out.

Lions midfielder Andrew Raines, 26, has signed for two more years.

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Saints land Suns ruckman Hickey

Gold Coast's Tom Hickey is heading to the Saints. Picture: David Clark Source: Gold Coast Bulletin

ST KILDA has used its prized compensation pick for losing Brendon Goddard on promising Gold Coast ruckman Tom Hickey.

The Saints will hand Gold Coast pick No. 13 and the clubs will also swap later draft picks.

The Saints have now parted with both their first-round picks but they will move up the draft in later rounds with the clubs set to exchange selections before the paperwork is lodged with the AFL today.

The Saints will receive Hickey and picks No.26 and 47. The Suns will get pick No.13 as well as 37 and 57. Hickey, 21, has been recruited to partner No.1 ruckman Ben McEvoy.

The Queenslander, played 10 games for the Suns this year and two in his debut season.

He requested a trade to the Saints this month - to be closer to his girlfriend, according to the Suns - but talks stalled last week when the Suns demanded a first-round pick.

The 201cm former elite volleyball player was a zone selection for Gold Coast.

Suns football manager Marcus Ashcroft said his side was thrilled to gain a top-15 draft selection after coughing up pick 2 to Greater Western Sydney last week.

"Our ability to add pick 13 to our selections in the upcoming draft means we will have the ability to draft another elite young player to our club," he said.

St Kilda got pick No.13 as compensation for the loss of free agent Brendon Goddard to Essendon.

The Saints traded their first pick, No.12, to Greater Western Sydney as part of a deal to snare Claremont forward Tom Lee.

The trade means the Suns will now have a first-round selection in next month's draft.

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No honeymoon at Blues for Mick

Mick Malthouse says Carlton will be playing a brand of football aimed at September action. Picture: Wayne Ludbey. Source: Herald Sun

Cartoon by David McArthur. Source: Herald Sun

COACH Mick Malthouse yesterday promised Carlton would be "up and running early" to cope with a draw from hell to open the season.

Malthouse said the Blues would play a brand of football geared towards September action.

"Given what I have just heard about our draw - which is something like Richmond, Collingwood, West Coast, Geelong and Adelaide - the (AFL) have done us no favours," Malthouse said.

"But I go along with what Andrew Demetriou says - the draw is the draw is the draw, and very rarely does the top four ever reflect anything but that."

Malthouse was speaking at the MCG launch of Malthouse, A Football Life, a book by his daughter Christi that details his 40 years in the AFL.

The four-time premiership coach said there would be no great surprises in the style Carlton would play.

"I can categorically tell you the game plan won't change," Malthouse, 59, said.

"It will be defence first, defence second and defence third.

"How you manage the strategies depends on the players you have at your disposal."

Malthouse said Chris Judd would retain the captaincy - if he wanted it.

Malthouse's former team, Collingwood, is also believed to be headed for a tough start to the season with games against this year's finalists contenders North Melbourne, Carlton and Hawthorn in the first three rounds. Essendon looms in Round5 on Anzac Day.

The Herald Sun understands the Magpies will play as many as seven Friday night games as Channel 7 gets bang for its buck with the most powerful club in the land.

The game plan won't change ... it will be defence first, defence second and defence third

In a major change to recent seasons, the Pies are believed to be set for more Sunday afternoon games.

Collingwood is expected to have an away game against Gold Coast to promote football in the area.

The Pies will be striving for another top-four finish, but Malthouse refused to speculate on the Blues.

"I'm not going to put a target on where we will finish but I'm desperate to make the final four because that's where premierships are won," he said.

"We will play football that is capable of winning finals matches."

Malthouse will officially begin at Carlton on November 5 before the club travels to Arizona. He has been doing altitude training to ensure his fitness is at the desired level.

Malthouse said there would be no dramatic changes to the Carlton list before the trade period ended on Friday.

Carlton has little room to move in its salary cap, despite not having reached the top four in the past decade.

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Bombers wait on Lovett-Murray

Essendon veteran Nathan Lovett-Murray at training. Picture: Chris Scott. Source: Herald Sun

Essendon ruckman David Hille has re-signed with the club. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun

Essendon small forward Alwyn Davey. Picture: Michael Dodge Source: News Limited

ESSENDON is all but locked and loaded for next season with Nathan Lovett-Murray the only club veteran yet to sign.

The Dons yesterday signed David Hille and Alwyn Davey on one-year deals and Lovett-Murray is expected to sign soon.

Hille's signature - first reported at superfooty.com.au - means there is a ruck crush at the club.

Father-son pick Joe Daniher will grow into a forward who can go into the ruck alongside Tom Bellchambers and Paddy Ryder.

In recent weeks the club has signed Scott Gumbleton, Dustin Fletcher, Leroy Jetta and David Myers. Henry Slattery is looking for a new home but Ricky Dyson could yet stay.

Every deal and delisting at Department of Trades

Essendon, which secured St Kilda free agent Brendon Goddard, hasn't lost any of its key position players in what should be a talent-laden spine.

Cale Hooker and Tayte Pears look set to stay, with Daniher considered so talented he could play in Round1.

Hille will need to be at the top of his form to play senior footy, but is up for the challenge.

"My hunger, desire and passion to compete ... is as strong as it has ever been," he said yesterday.

Join the live trades chat here

PORT ADELAIDE has converted its second-round draft pick of No.29 to two players in the trade period. Greater Western Sydney tall defender Jack Hombsch will return to SA.

The second player is forward Jake Neade, now studying at St Patrick's College in Ballarat. The 17-year-old is a zone-based recruit the Giants can on-pass to rival clubs.

Hombsch was the first South Australian added to the GWS list.

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