Western Bulldogs list boss Sam Power has proven himself to be a tough negotiator over the years, and this year will be no different.

When asked about the situation with Bailey Smith, who wants to go to Geelong, Power says the Dogs “expect a lot” in exchange for him.

On Jack Macrae, Power says “it would have to be a suitable deal for us”.

It doesn’t look like we’ll see Dustin Martin running around in the Gold Coast next year.

“I think Dustin’s own words were that he was happily retired,” Suns list boss Craig Cameron told Trade Radio.

“I don’t think it’s for our footy club to add to that narrative, so that’s where it sits.”

Hi Rato,

Luke Parker has requested a trade to North Melbourne, but Sydney’s list boss Chris Keane said earlier that the deal is “not as straightforward as people think”.

Hi Luca!

At this stage it certainly appears that Collingwood is the frontrunner for Dan Houston.

Given Port is keen on bringing across Joe Richards from the Pies, it won’t be a surprise if the two clubs combine the pair in the same deal.

Carlton’s hardline stance on wanting to stay in this year’s draft probably makes it hard for them to appease Port in a trade.

St Kilda list boss David Misson on exactly what the Saints’ plans are during this trade period.

Here’s Port’s GM of football, Chris Davies, on the chase for Dan Houston.

“As we have said for the last few days we are open to do a deal on Dan but it needs to be right for the club. Dan understands the club that wins his services has to satisfy us,” he says.

 It looks like North Melbourne is finally ready to do some winning next season.

North is expected to bring in both Luke Parker and Jack Darling, and has also been linked to both Dan Houston and Caleb Daniel.

Here’s the Kangaroos list boss Brady Rawlings on the club’s plans during the trade period.

Hawthorn’s tagger-in-chief, Finn Maginness, was briefly linked to Essendon last week, but it looks like he’ll now stay put.

Hi Sainter, thanks for checking in!

No movement on any deal for Jack Macrae so far from what I can see.

I wouldn’t be worried about that deal getting done though. It seems like it is in both Macrae and the Bulldogs’ best interests to part ways, given his lack of playing time this year.

Hi Mike, thanks for following along!

I can’t see the AFL banning clubs from trading first-rounders because otherwise we’d have no star players moving clubs.

Whether the AFL likes to admit it or not, the fanfare around player movement is massive in terms of keeping the AFL front of mind even when there’s no games happening.

That being said, they do need to find a way to stop the draft from being compromised.

Hi Laws,

This is par for the course for the trade period I think. Every club comes in overvaluing their own players while lowballing rivals.

The first week of the trade period is all about posturing, before clubs actually get serious.

Eventually they find some sort of middle ground on deals, and I suspect Collingwood and Gold Coast will do this when it comes to John Noble.

Hello DB, aka ABC Sport’s very own Dean Bilton!

Just trying to fill some big boots here in your absence is all.

As for Rotham, no comment.

Melbourne has come out pretty strongly on Clayton Oliver and is keeping consistent with its message.

“Clayton will be at the club next year 100 per cent. He has never been offered for trade,” list manager Tim Lamb says.

“If a player has a meeting (with a rival club) it doesn’t mean they want to leave. He is happy to be with us next year.”

Lamb also says the Demons will not be trading Kysaiah Pickett despite rumours he may be looking elsewhere.

Kane Cornes yet to be convinced by the Demons’ stance on Oliver it seems.

Hi Simon, thanks for checking in!

John Noble is a tough one to get a proper gauge on, purely because of the position he plays.

I’d say he’s probably worth a late second or an early third-round pick, given he’s not exactly a lock in Collingwood’s side every week.

He’s a very serviceable player, but I certainly wouldn’t be selling the farm to get him into my club.

And to answer your second question, yes he is contracted through the 2026 season with the Pies currently.

Hi LW,

The Eagles certainly have a lot of balls in the air, but my guess would be that they are pretty keen to go to the draft.

It’s a list that still has many holes to plug, and you’d want as many bites of the apple as possible in a strong draft like this year’s.

I don’t expect Chad Warner to move this year, but that might be one for 12 months’ time.

Shai Bolton would be a great acquisition, but would require them giving up their draft position, so I’d say it’s unlikely at this stage, but never say never.

West Coast will probably be looking at a buy-low target like Brisbane’s Deven Robertson, who is a WA native.

Geelong list boss Andrew Mackie pretty strong here on the hopes of bringing Clayton Oliver into the club.

“Clayton’s manager was aware it might be in his best interests to have a chat but it was pretty brief,” he tells the Trade Exchange.

“As far as we are concerned it was fleeting. We are respectable of Melbourne and their stance. We will put it to bed.”

Here’s exactly what Mackie said this morning.

Adelaide list boss Justin Reid on what the Crows have cooking in the trade period.

The Crows are expected to officially land Melbourne’s Alex Neal-Bullen later today.

Richmond star Shai Bolton wants to get to WA, but it is unclear which of the state’s two teams it will be at this stage.

If it is to be Fremantle, it looks like that might be a deal that goes down to the wire.

Freo list boss David Walls doesn’t sound too optimistic at this stage.

“Still early days with Shai, we’d love to bring him in but we need to sit down with Richmond. There’s still a bit of work to do,” he tells Trade Exchange.

“We will go in with an open mind, but there could be a point where we say it’s too much.”

Walls adds that the Dockers are confident in re-signing Andrew Brayshaw.

Brisbane’s premiership celebrations have been somewhat rocked by the retirement of Joe Daniher.

Lions list boss Dom Ambrogio says the club will “look to get some cover in some form” for Daniher, but tells fans to not expect a big name.

Brisbane is also open to granting Deven Robertson a move away from the club, given the young midfielder wants more opportunities.

 One of the big trade dominos at Essendon will be Jake Stringer, who has a contract for next year at the Bombers, but wants out.

Here’s Essendon list boss Adrian Dod — sorry, I mean Matt Rosa — on what the Dons will be up to in the trade period.

Rosa says the Bombers’ “main focus” during the trade period is to improve its draft hand.

The Bombers currently have picks 9 and 31 in this year’s draft, and also have access to their academy prospect Isaac Kako, who is rated as the best small forward in the draft.