NORTH Melbourne midfielder
Ryan Bastinac is set to cross to the Brisbane Lions in a deal that complicates Collingwood's efforts to sign Lions midfielder James Aish.
There had been speculation Bastinac might get to the Lions in a three-way deal that would also have sent Aish to Collingwood, but the Pies will now have to reach a separate deal for the Lions midfielder.
With the NAB AFL Trade Period's deadline of 2pm AEDT on Thursday fast approaching, Collingwood is running out of time to finalise an agreement with the Lions, meaning North retains some hope of convincing Aish that his future lies at Arden Street.
In return for Bastinac, North will climb back into the first round of this year's draft.
North will, in turn, send picks No.38 and 40 to the Lions, which will ensure they still have the draft points they are expected to need to match rival bids for their highly rated academy players Eric Hipwood and Ben Keays.
Giving up pick No.17 will see the Lions lose 1025 points, but picks No.38 and 40 nearly cover that loss with their combined 884 points.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the Treloar trade was expected to drag on into the final day of the trade period, leaving the Pies with a significant task of securing trades for the Giant and Aish before the 2pm deadline.
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-10-21/lions-pounce-on-north-mid-ryan-bastinacOfficials from Melbourne and GWS, together with player manager Tom Petroro, are seated together in the foyer here at the AFL, which suggests a trade for Giants defender Tom Bugg might be imminent.
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-10-21/trade-period-live-two-days-to-go