Freo's hard line on Robert Warnock trade
Kim Hagdorn and Glenn McFarlane | September 14, 2008
FREMANTLE will play hard ball and insist on prime draft picks in any trade deal for young ruckman Robert Warnock.
Victorian clubs are clambering to win the giant 21-year-old's signature, after he stunned Fremantle officials on Wednesday with a decision to head home to Melbourne.
Football operations chief Chris Bond said the Dockers would insist on at least a first-round draft pick in opening trade talk salvos. Bond and Dockers chief executive Steve Rosich refused to comment on Warnock's negotiations yesterday.
Fremantle want Carlton, which has been mentioned as a frontrunner to secure Warnock's services, to offer pick six and Richmond at least its first selection (pick eight). But Carlton is expected to offer only a second-round selection (24) for Warnock.
Melbourne remains in prime position if other negotiations fail and could take Warnock with first-pick in the pre-season draft. The Demons have appreciable room in their salary cap to accommodate a possible $400,000-a-season, four-year deal.
Carlton football manager Steven Icke met Warnock's manager Colin Young in Perth on Friday. Young will travel to Melbourne this week to consider formal offers from Richmond and Melbourne. St Kilda is also believed to have shown interest.
"We have to weigh up everything that might be offered to Robbie over the next few days and make a decision on what is best for his footy," Young said. "We'll have a clearer view after some discussions in Melbourne this week."
Young was also discussing offers from Carlton for Eagles' forward Ben McKinley, however, the creative goal-shark agreed to a two-year contract extension with West Coast.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,24341303-19742,00.html