The Crows and Power don’t expect Jared Polec to officially nominate a preferred club, leaving the two South Australian-based clubs to battle it out for his services.
Polec, 20, has requested a trade home to Adelaide in the upcoming trade period, which starts on Monday and runs until 2pm on Friday, October 25.
The Brisbane onballer has ties to both clubs, and Crows General Manager of List Management and Strategy David Noble said it would come down to which club could satisfy the Lions with a trade.
“I don’t think Jared’s in a position where he’s going to say (which club he wants to go to). To be fair to him, he supported Port as a kid and we know he’s got some mates here, in particular Brodie Smith,” Noble told FIVEaa.
“There has never been a point in the discussions with Jared or his management where he’s said, ‘I want to come to you guys’. They understand there are a couple of clubs in the market, who both have Jared as a high priority.
“We would love to get him.”
Port Adelaide Football Manager Peter Rohde ruled out using a first-round pick to secure Polec.
“We’re not prepared to give up our first-round pick for Jared, and then (our next pick in the second-round is at) 30. We can talk players and what else, but it’ll probably come down to whether the Crows can get a better pick that No.30,” Rohde said on SEN.
“It’s just a matter of who can get a deal done with the Lions.”
The Crows, who are barred from the first two rounds of November’s AFL National Draft, would need to trade their way back into the second round to secure a pick higher than No.30.
Noble said talks were already underway.
“It’s like an iceberg. There is one third sitting on top of the water and two third below the water,” he said.
“We’re pedalling like crazy to work with Brisbane and other clubs, if need be, to see if there’s a way we can secure Jared’s services at our Club.”
Adelaide has a pick before Port Adelaide in the Pre-Season Draft, but Noble said a trade was the preferred option for all parties involved.
“I understand we’ve got a lot of fans who would say, ‘push him through the pre-season draft. Get him that way and get him for nothing’,” Noble said.
“You’ve got to remember, we’re going to be dealing with these 17 football clubs for a very long time and they’ve all got good memories. I understand the tactic is there, but we’ve never had that discussion.
“I didn’t say we won’t use it, but it’s not fair.”
The AFL Free Agency period got underway on Friday morning.
The Crows are hoping to finalise a deal for Carlton forward Eddie Betts. Betts is a Restricted Free Agent, which allows the Blues to match any offer to the goalsneak if they so choose.
Noble said it was unlikely Adelaide would make a play for any of the other Free Agents, ruling out Hawthorn utility Xavier Ellis and indicating Paul Chapman would also be overlooked by the Club.
