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North Melbourne expect Port Adelaide to pay up in an AFL trade for Jason Horne-Francis and are prepared to make the No.1 draft pick see out his contract.
North Melbourne are prepared to hold Jason Horne-Francis to his contract but Port Adelaide are confident they can strike a deal for the AFL No.1 draft pick.
Horne-Francis lodged a trade request on Sunday night, the eve of the trade period, to return to South Australia, after meeting with the Power last week.
North Melbourne football boss Brady Rawlings was confident Horne-Francis could comfortably walk back into Arden Street if his trade request fell through, and would not lose trade value by being out of contract next year.
"He's a contracted player. We've turned down some huge offers in the past so the deal's going to have to be pretty good for us to look at it," Rawlings said.
"If he was to be with us in 12 months' time, the value is still incredibly strong.
"So it's certainly not something we'd consider, thinking 'we have to do it this year'."
Rawlings said the Kangaroos would deal with both Port Adelaide and Adelaide over Horne-Francis but the Power believe they are the only team in contention.
Port Adelaide counterpart Chris Davies admitted the Power wouldn't quite move heaven and earth to secure the 19-year-old.
"There's always limits to what you'll go through," he told reporters.
"To suggest that you would give up everything and just throw anything at it is not the way that I think any club would go.
"It's very easy to suggest that's what you're going to say but ultimately, it's what you do that counts.
"I'm really confident that a deal can be struck as long as both parties are fair and reasonable."
Davies said former first-round picks Miles Bergman and Josh Sinn wouldn't be on the table as part of any Horne-Francis deal.
A homesick Horne-Francis was unsettled throughout his debut season and Davies expected him to quickly bounce back if he returned home.
Adelaide are interested in Horne-Francis but are poised to spend their pick No.5 in a deal for Gold Coast's Izak Rankine.
The Kangaroos will consider draft picks and players in exchange for Horne-Francis.
They are willing to entertain offers for this year's No.1 pick and are also set to bring in Fremantle duo Griffin Logue and Darcy Tucker.
Fremantle are confident they can seal a deal for Melbourne ruck Luke Jackson while keeping hold of Rory Lobb, who wants to go to the Western Bulldogs.
The Dockers will trade Blake Acres to Carlton.
Meanwhile, Essendon are among the clubs keen to take Jack Bowes and pick seven as Gold Coast look to offload the midfielder's salary.
Bowes has also been linked with Geelong, and Gold Coast expect to learn today which club the player would like to join.
Richmond parted with draft picks 12 and 19 in exchange for GWS midfielder Tim Taranto, who has signed a seven-year contract.
Jacob Hopper is also set to land at Punt Road in a separate deal.
West Coast signed unrestricted free agent Jayden Hunt, with Melbourne to receive a third-round pick as compensation (currently pick No.52).
Collingwood expect no issues in striking a deal to send Brodie Grundy to Melbourne.
The Magpies picked up GWS forward Bobby Hill and pick 40 in exchange for pick 43 and a future second-round selection.
