Didak, Green to stay with current clubs
Two of the biggest names touted as potential AFL trade options - Collingwood's Alan Didak and Melbourne's Brad Green - seem set to stay with their current clubs.
Two months ago it seemed almost a fait accompli that trouble-prone forward Didak had worn the black and white stripes for the last time, after angry club officials suspended him for lying over his role in a drink-driving saga.
But, as trade week has approached, the anger has cooled and the club's stance has turned towards keeping the talented 25-year-old, who won their best and fairest two seasons ago and was leading this year's count until his suspension.
Port Adelaide, who had expressed an interest in the former Port Adelaide Magpies SANFL player, said the message they were getting from Collingwood was that he was not on the trade table.
"That won't be happening," the Power's football manager Peter Rohde said on Monday.
"He's contracted and all the way through his management and Collingwood have been adamant he's staying there and that's the way it's going to be."
The Power had been in a prime bargaining position, after coach Mark Williams broke with the pattern of clubs declaring their first round draft selections off-limits, by publicly saying Port's prized No.4 pick could be up for grabs.
Magpies football manager Geoff Walsh said early indications were it could be a quiet week for the club.
"There was nothing happened today that would indicate that we're in a position to trade Alan or any player," he said.
And Melbourne were confident 27-year-old Green, who is in the club's leadership group and was third in their best and fairest this season, would sign a new deal, despite considering his options.
Demons football manager Chris Connolly said Green met with coach Dean Bailey on Sunday and the club believed he was close to agreeing to terms.
Hawthorn and Sydney inquired about Green today, but were told there was little chance of him leaving.
"We're confident that we can re-sign him," Connolly said.
"They just felt out to see whether the contractual negotiations were positive or negative and they've been positive."
Rohde said the Power had also had some interest in Green, but the bottom-placed Demons' salary cap room and prime draft position gave them the upper hand in any trade wrangling.
"The salary he's after is probably not in our ballpark and he's at the club that finished 16th, so leverage-wise it's a bit hard to get a deal," he said.
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