- Banned
- #1
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/afl/story/0,27009,24473755-5016140,00.html
SWANS star Ryan O'Keefe is heading for the AFL pre-season draft and a future at either Essendon or Port Adelaide unless Carlton can come up with a deal to satisfy Sydney before today's 2pm trade deadline. Talk of the Swans' star forward set to join 2008 premiers Hawthorn was just that - all talk - with a source close to O'Keefe revealing the Hawks were never in the picture during trade week.
Reports out of Hawthorn that O'Keefe wanted to be in Hawks colours next season and was even prepared to accept less money than the Swans' $1.4 million deal over three years after meeting with their coach Alastair Clarkson and chief executive Ian Robson in Sydney on Wednesday afternoon simply weren't true.
"Ryan was never going to Hawthorn, period," the source said. "He never had any desire to play for the Hawks."
O'Keefe has made it clear to Swans coach Paul Roos that he wants to go to Carlton after backing out of a verbal agreement over a new lucrative deal, and Sydney remain adamant they want at least a first-round draft pick in return.
The problem for O'Keefe, who has reportedly put a $600,000 price tag on himself, is that Carlton, who have pick No. 6 overall and have previously stated that it's not up for a trade, haven't even made an initial approach to Sydney.
"I said to Ryan (yesterday) 'they (Carlton) better start talking to us otherwise you are going into the pre-season draft'. Both Essendon and Port Adelaide have indicated to us they would take him in the pre-season draft," Roos said.
With the O'Keefe situation at a stalemate Roos conceded that the Swans need to move quickly today - with or without a deal for O'Keefe - if they are going to salvage anything out of trade week. "We are going to have to work on the assumption that he's going so we will start to look around now, we can't just sit on our hands," he said.
IT'S GANNA BE A VERY INTERESTING DAY.
SWANS star Ryan O'Keefe is heading for the AFL pre-season draft and a future at either Essendon or Port Adelaide unless Carlton can come up with a deal to satisfy Sydney before today's 2pm trade deadline. Talk of the Swans' star forward set to join 2008 premiers Hawthorn was just that - all talk - with a source close to O'Keefe revealing the Hawks were never in the picture during trade week.
Reports out of Hawthorn that O'Keefe wanted to be in Hawks colours next season and was even prepared to accept less money than the Swans' $1.4 million deal over three years after meeting with their coach Alastair Clarkson and chief executive Ian Robson in Sydney on Wednesday afternoon simply weren't true.
"Ryan was never going to Hawthorn, period," the source said. "He never had any desire to play for the Hawks."
O'Keefe has made it clear to Swans coach Paul Roos that he wants to go to Carlton after backing out of a verbal agreement over a new lucrative deal, and Sydney remain adamant they want at least a first-round draft pick in return.
The problem for O'Keefe, who has reportedly put a $600,000 price tag on himself, is that Carlton, who have pick No. 6 overall and have previously stated that it's not up for a trade, haven't even made an initial approach to Sydney.
"I said to Ryan (yesterday) 'they (Carlton) better start talking to us otherwise you are going into the pre-season draft'. Both Essendon and Port Adelaide have indicated to us they would take him in the pre-season draft," Roos said.
With the O'Keefe situation at a stalemate Roos conceded that the Swans need to move quickly today - with or without a deal for O'Keefe - if they are going to salvage anything out of trade week. "We are going to have to work on the assumption that he's going so we will start to look around now, we can't just sit on our hands," he said.
IT'S GANNA BE A VERY INTERESTING DAY.
