Mitch Clark's hopes of being traded from Brisbane to Fremantle hit a brick wall on Monday as the Lions declared there was a significant gulf between the clubs over the ruck-forward's worth.
Clark's manager Colin Young said he hoped a deal would be finalised with the Dockers before trade week ends on October 17.
"Mitch has met with Fremantle, he's met with Ross (Lyon), and he just loves where they're going and he wants to be there. I think he is Fremantle-bound," Young told afl.com.au's Trade Week Radio.
But Brisbane national talent manager Rob Kerr said West Coast had been more reasonable than Fremantle.
"It's fair to say there was next to no movement with Mitch Clark today," Kerr said.
"We value Mitch in a different way to what Fremantle values him."
Kerr said Clark had requested a trade to Western Australia and the Lions would try to secure a suitable trade.
"If a deal's not done then Mitch is a required player at Brisbane and we'll be doing our best to retain him from then on," he said.
Kerr said there was a reasonable possibility Clark would remain with the Lions.
"We feel we have put a fair position (to Fremantle). It takes two to negotiate and we haven't seen much sign of that," he said.
"I would say that West Coast have been much more reasonable."
Fremantle's first selection is number 16 in the November Draft.
"Pick 16 in this draft, when you are talking about a player of the quality of Mitch, is probably not enough," Kerr said.
Fremantle football manager Chris Bond said the Dockers would continue to negotiate.
"We've got Mitch who wants to come to us and obviously we'd like to get a trade done because I think having him at the club by the end of trade week helps everyone involved," Bond told reporters on Monday.
West Coast football operations manager Neale Daniher said the Eagles were still in the running.
One of the big rumours of day one of trade week was that some of St Kilda's stars such as Brendon Goddard, Leigh Montagna and Nick Dal Santo would be thrown up for discussion because of salary-cap pressures.
However St Kilda's head of football Chris Pelchen sought to play down what he called the hysteria surrounding the Saints, who are still to sign a coach for next season.
"I can certainly say with conviction that none of those boys will be traded," Pelchen said.
"It's certainly well known that our TPP (Total Player Payments) is challenged.
"There seems to be a lot of hysteria around our TPP position.
"It's strained, it's somewhat delicate. But at the same time it's manageable."
Pelchen says the Saints are confident of retaining out-of-contract trio Farren Ray, Brett Peake and Zac Dawson.
Two trades were finalised on Monday, both involving Greater Western Sydney.
Collingwood regained 46-game wingman Marty Clarke in a trade, two years after he left the club to return to Ireland.
The Magpies gave up their first pick in November's national draft, number 25 overall, in return for Clarke, Murray Bushrangers junior Jamie Elliot and pick 67 from GWS.
Richmond recruited 22-year-old defender Steven Morris, son of former Tiger Kevin Morris, in a similar deal with the Giants.
AAP
Tags: australian-football-league, sport, brisbane-4000, qld, fremantle-6160, wa, australia First posted October 10, 2011 20:34:29
