‘Real tension’ over Bailey Smith deal; Membrey might be Bombers’ Stringer fix — Trade Whispers

The latest on Bailey Smith’s trade situation amid “real tension” over the lack of progress on a deal.

Plus, Essendon could look to an unsigned St Kilda veteran as a potential replacement for Jake Stringer.

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‘REAL TENSION’ OVER DEAL FOR DOG

Geelong and the Western Bulldogs are yet to have “a single meaningful conversation” regarding a trade deal for wantaway midfielder Bailey Smith.

Smith, rehabilitating an ACL injury, has been slated for a move to the Cats for a number of months, but as the player movement period nears, there is reportedly little movement on the parameters of an agreement.

“There are growing frustrations over a lack of progress on this deal,” Herald Sun journalist Jay Clark told Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle on Wednesday night.

“We’ve known for 12 months, maybe longer, that Bailey Smith was headed to the Cattery at the end of this season, but with the trade period less than 12 days away, there has not been — can you believe this — a single meaningful conversation on what a trade deal will actually look like.

“We know the Cats want to play him in the inside midfield role, but I don’t think this deal is going to be very straightforward.

“At surface level, the Dogs want the Cats’ first-round pick, which is (Pick) 16, that’ll shuffle back to 20 (due to matched father-son and Academy bids), but they (the Dogs) want more than that.

“But the first-round pick will be the centrepiece of that deal, and I think there’s going to be a fair bit of thrashing out — in fact, I don’t think this is going to be done early in the trade period.

“It does feel like there’s some real tension around this deal and his departure from the Kennel.”

Clark floated an idea for what a trade could look like between the Cats and Dogs.

“I don’t think the Cats want to give their first and second-round picks without getting something back, so there is potentially complex pick swap going to take place here,” he said.

Clark proposed the Bulldogs could send Bailey Smith and their third-round pick to Geelong for its first and second-round picks.

“These are the sorts of complexities (that could occur), and this is why I think it’s going to take some time to thrash out.”

VETERAN SAINT TO DONS AS STRINGER COVER?

Free agent St Kilda forward Tim Membrey is being touted as the ‘perfect replacement’ for Jake Stringer at Essendon if he departs this off-season.

It’s been reported the Bombers aren’t interested in offering Stringer — who is contracted at the Hangar next season — a multi-year deal, leaving the 30-year-old to explore rival opportunities ahead of October’s player movement period.

In anticipation of the premiership forward ultimately leaving Essendon, Membrey’s camp is said to have been in talks with the Bombers.

“His management has spoken with Essendon,” Herald Sun journalist Scott Gullan revealed on Midweek Tackle.

“The Jake Stringer situation, we’re all monitoring that. They see if Stringer’s out — like we think potentially (he might be) — Tim Membrey comes in, perfect.

“Nate Caddy, the kid — he’s going to be a gun — needs help, still, (and) Peter Wright’s form was an issue.

“(Membrey is an) experienced guy, he’s 30, kicked 30 goals this year, we know he can play that role, and he’s a ripping fella.

“So, they (Membrey’s management) are really pushing — ‘if you lose Stringer, we have the perfect replacement’.”

Clark added: “I get the feeling that Essendon is happy to do a trade for Jake Stringer, but the interest (from rival clubs) just isn’t there it seems — Craig McRae … said Collingwood won’t be taking Stringer, they did have a level of interest but won’t be going there anymore — so it will be interesting to see how the future of Tim Membrey plays out.”

Membrey played 19 games for the Saints this year after managing just seven last season.