The prospective Esava Ratugolea trade has both Geelong and Port Adelaide in a testy mood.
That is according to SEN’s Sam Edmund who believes negotiations have stalled after the Cats “swatted away” the Power’s offer of Pick 24 for the 25-year-old, leaving the South Australian club “stunned”.
It is understood that the situation is now at the stage where Ratugolea could be walked to the pre-season draft if things do not improve, with Edmund suggesting it could “bubble over” between the two clubs.
“Things are getting testy between Geelong and Port Adelaide when it comes to the trade of Esava Ratugolea,” Edmund said on SEN Mornings.
“The Cats absolutely swatted away Port Adelaide’s offer for (pick) 24. They didn’t even blink. ‘24? Nah, not looking at it’.
“That is understood to have stunned the Power. My understanding is, Port Adelaide now are threatening to walk Esava Ratugolea through the pre-season draft, if it gets to that.
“There’s a lot of time between now and Wednesday. We know this is a threat that often gets trotted out, but from my understanding, this is absolutely on at the moment.
“If he was to get walked to the pre-season draft, I’m not sure how it would work. How would Port navigate Hawthorn and potentially other clubs who would have the picks and the finances to get a deal done for Esava Ratugolea, regardless of what terms can be preset with Port Adelaide.
“I can tell you now, this is nowhere near getting done, both clubs are at loggerheads and it’s threatening to bubble over.”
SEN’s Tom Morris also had some information regarding the Ratugolea talks.
Further to Edmund’s story, he also believes Hawthorn could quite possibly benefit if the stalemate between the Cats and Power continues.
“The interesting wrinkle to the Ratugolea discussion is imagine both teams just hold firm and the deal doesn’t get done,” said Morris.
“Ratugolea is out, he’s leaving Geelong. The Cats can spin it anyway they want, he doesn’t want to play for the Cats next year.
“If he walks to the pre-season draft, Hawthorn have a pick before Port and Hawthorn are desperate for a player like that. They’ve wanted Ratugolea, they wanted Ben McKay, they got neither.
“I just wonder whether the Hawks would swoop on Ratugolea before Port and get him for nothing. They have money to spend as well.”
Ratugolea, who has played 75 games for the Cats, requested a trade to the Power in early September.
JOHNSON AND CORNES REACT AS CATS REBUFF PICK 24 FOR RATUGOLEA WHILE TARGETING POWER TALL
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