Port Adelaide have been urged to “bite the bullet” and pay what they must to secure Geelong swingman Esava Ratugolea after revelations negotiations have lasted just 20 seconds so far.
The Cats are playing hardball on the forward-turned-defender, rejecting an early offer of pick 24 for the out-of-contract 25-year-old.
It is the second straight year the Power have tried to lure Ratugolea across but Seven’s Mitch Cleary revealed they and the Cats had completed just one “20-second phone call” about the trade thus far.
Boxing: Tim Tszyu defends his world title vs Brian Mendoza SUN 15th OCT 12PM AEDT | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports
“It’s a full blown impasse at the moment,” Foxfooty.com.au’s David Zita said on Fox Footy’s Trading Day.
“You can’t say we weren’t warned by Geelong – Chris Scott sat at this desk on AFL 360 and said we think he’s a really good player, we’re gonna drive a very hard bargain. Andrew Mackie said as much at the trade period (launch), it’s up to Port to get this done. And it’s playing out that way.
“So Port Adelaide have offered pick 24, which was rejected by the Cats … but I think Port would’ve nearly fallen off their chair when they found that that wasn’t accepted, given they traded themselves to get into that position.
“Ollie Lord’s a player of interest for the Cats, 21 years of age, key forward prospect, 13 games of senior football this season. He’s still got a lot of work ahead of him but I think Port are desperate and saying we’re keeping him, keep your hands off Ollie Lord.
“So this is something that’s becoming a real impasse for a player whose value seems to have gone up as the days have commenced towards the trade period.”
Oliver back home after hospital visit | 01:23
North Melbourne champion David King implored the Power to cough up for Ratugolea, believing fixing their backline is absolutely critical if they’re to truly contend in 2024 under coach Ken Hinkley.
“He can play. His value’s always been strong because of this (his intercept marking). Not many players in our comp can do that,” King said on Fox Footy.
“I look at Port Adelaide, and if nothing drastically changes with their backline stocks, Ken Hinkley doesn’t win a flag. This is a sort of player they desperately need.
“(Brandon) Zerk-Thatcher, you get him in, does it really move the magnet that much? No. But they get another intercept marker in, pay the price, get the deal done. They’ve got to be brave enough to put it on the line and back themselves in, Aliir Aliir and Ratugolea as interceptors, Zerk-Thatcher as the lock-away defender.
“Right now, they don’t interrupt the opposition when they move the ball down the ground, and that only gets exposed at the pointy end of the year – out in straight sets.
“If you want to be a genuine contender, you’ve got to sure up down back; pick 24 was never gonna get it done. So they’ve got to get serious and bite the bullet and give Ken the chance.”
However Hawthorn great Dermott Brereton argued they had already made a fair offer for the big Cat.
“I thought 24 was gonna go fairly close,” Brereton said.
“For a lad who, as you say, he’s incredibly gifted up there (marking). Not much else has gone for him.”
Discussion about this post