Eagles weaken on Blues' No.1 pick
Sunday Herald Sun | Scot Palmer and Kim Hagdorn | October 07, 2007 12:00am
CHRIS Judd was lobbying for his release at West Coast's best and fairest award on Friday night as the Eagles showed the first signs of flinching in a standoff with Carlton.
Eagles chief executive Trevor Nisbett hinted yesterday for the first time that his club might drop demands for Carlton's cherished first pick in next month's national draft.
Carlton, where Judd wants to play, could engage Richmond to assist in the former Eagles captain's passage to the Blues.
The Blues could deal in draft swaps with the Tigers and, in return, Richmond would not take Judd with its first pick in the December draft for uncontracted players.
If that happens, the Eagles will get nothing for Judd.
"Naturally, we want the first pick," Nisbett said.
"We think Chris Judd is the best player in Australia and we think it is only fair to get fair full compensation for losing him."
But Nisbett admitted the Eagles were aware of looming prospects that Carlton and the Tigers could deal to lockout West Coast.
"We understand Richmond and Carlton might put their heads together and they might construct a deal," he said.
"I hope that doesn't happen because we don't think that is in the spirit of the draft."
Nisbett also revealed that West Coast would be willing to deal direct with Richmond in a deal for Judd that would suit the Eagles and Tigers.
"We know Richmond are keen to deal with us," he said.
"We'll talk to them on Monday and see what prospects there are there.
"I know Chris doesn't want to go to Richmond, so we'll try and do a deal with Carlton.
"Carlton might come back with something other than pick three that satisfies us."
Carlton could be satisfied in trading its third pick and promising WA key position player Josh Kennedy, who started with East Fremantle.
"It doesn't matter, it could be a combination of picks and players," Nisbett said.
"We are interested in Josh. He's the poor player that has been bandied around and he signed a new contract earlier this year and he may not necessarily want to come home.
"He is a West Australian boy and a good young player."
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22544580-11088,00.html