West Coast Eagles rule out trading pick three for Richmond vice captain Liam Baker in ‘standalone’ tradeGlen Quartermain
The West Australian
Sun, 8 September 2024West Coast chief executive Don Pyke has ruled out giving up pick three on its own in this year’s draft to Richmond in a direct trade for Liam Baker.
But Pyke did not rule out parting with three and securing a top-10 pick and the West Australian premiership mid-forward.
The Tigers are in negotiations with Gold Coast over the future of Daniel Rioli with the pick six mentioned in that deal a chance to be on-traded to the Eagles.
“Not as a standalone,” Pyke told ABC Radio.
“The scenarios are varied and different with ultimately what we would be prepared to part with for Liam versus what does it look like for us in our trade hand and the draft table.
“It’s hard because the trade stuff starts in about a month’s time. I know the conversations have already started but there is a fair bit of water to go under the bridge before we get to that.
“We are really mindful and want to reassure our members and fans we are going to make sure we do this in a really diligent way and really sensible way that hopefully we can bring in some mature talent but we can also make sure we have a good draft hand to bring in our younger talent.
‘Historically that is where the club has done very well. And this year’s draft falls very deep I am led to believe. We don’t want to miss out.
“I’ve said probably from the middle of the year, where we are at, we want the best of both worlds. We want to bring in some talent, mature, that can help us but we also want to make sure we have our draft talent to keep that draft talent coming on board so that we have some high-end picks.”
He confirmed Baker, Shai Bolton, Jack Graham and Chad Warner were also part of discussions.
”We are having conversations around what that might look like,” Pyke said.
“There are negotiations around trade, around contracts, term, and we are working through that.
“We are trying to have the view that if we put enough lines in the water we will add something there. We need to be sure we are adding to the list in the right way that builds towards what we need for the future. That’s where it’s at.”
Richmond’s new CEO Shane Dunne said this week if would take an “extraordinary” deal to part with contracted players Bolton and Rioli.
Baker is uncontracted, and while he is leaning towards the Eagles, his management has told the Dockers and West Coast he is yet to come to an official decision.
The Dockers have three first-round picks in this year’s draft and are also in the mix for Baker and Bolton, along with Sydney’s Chad Warner, who is out of contract at the end of next season.
Eagles defender Tom Barrass has requested a trade to Hawthorn with the Hawks will be prepared to give up a first-round pick, which will depend on how deep the go in September.
“The situation with Tom is those conversations will have started now and we will have those with Hawthorn without necessarily putting it out there as to what we want,” Pyke said.
“Understanding he is a contracted player and is a required player. He has made a decision and so we will try and negotiate in our best interests to get what we can for that trade if it is to eventuate.”
https://thewest.com.au/sport/west-coast-eagles/west-coast-eagles-rule-out-trading-pick-three-for-richmond-vice-captain-liam-baker-in-standalone-trade-c-15983220
