It's Cats, Swans or draft for Ottens
By Jake Niall, Stephen Rielly
realfooty.theage.com.au
October 5, 2004
Brad Ottens remains committed to Geelong and Sydney and is prepared even to take his chance in the pre-season draft if a trade to one of those clubs doesn't eventuate.
While Richmond yesterday suggested that the Kangaroos had made the best offer for the uncontracted follower-forward, Ottens' management last night reiterated that he was keen to join either Geelong or Sydney, not the Kangaroos or other late suitors.
"Brad has made a commitment that Geelong and Sydney were the two clubs that he prefers," said Ottens' manager Dan Richardson. "Failing him getting to those clubs, he's prepared to take his chances in the pre-season draft.
"It's nothing against the clubs like the Kangaroos, he's not saying there's anything wrong with them, it's just that he's made a decision that Geelong or Sydney are where he wants to be."
Richardson spoke with the Kangaroos last night and reiterated that Ottens wasn't keen to join them. The Roos, however, told the Ottens camp that in the event that potential deals with Geelong and Sydney failed, they would be happy to rekindle their interest.
Richmond has first pick in the draft and in the unlikely event that Ottens is not traded before the deadline, the Tigers would have the option of re-drafting him - provided they have sufficient room in the salary cap to accommodate his asking price. Ottens is prepared even for the slim chance of remaining at Tigerland.
The Tigers are believed to be keen to have the Ottens trade settled before they deal with his likely replacement, Fremantle's Troy Simmonds, for whom they are the frontrunners. Simmonds also could use the pre-season draft as a last resort, but Richmond cannot pick up both players in the draft - hence its desire to have the Ottens deal settled.
Ottens' ruling out of the Kangaroos and Simmonds' apparent preference for Richmond has placed the Kangaroos at the head of the queue for Hawthorn's Nathan Thompson. The Roos are prepared to give up their first pick, No. 10, and perhaps their second choice, No.26, for the contracted Hawk.
Assuming he cleared the Tigers in pre-season with a price on his head, Hawthorn would be the next club in line to acquire Ottens - assuming it could find the salary cap space, which is uncertain. Richmond would be more concerned, however, about the possibility that Ottens could get to Collingwood via the pre-season draft, since the Magpies - who have not expressed interest in the big man and been coy in the trading market - have the fourth pick and are cashed up with room in the salary cap.
Geelong remains confident, however, that it can do the deal to secure the first-round pick required to satisfy Richmond, though the Tigers have been open in expressing doubt about Geelong's willingness to part with a young player of sufficient quality.
West Coast and Adelaide last night were on the verge of a deal in which Tyson Stenglein would join the Eagles in return for West Coast's first pick (No.12) - a trade that is likely to mean that that pick is on-traded to Melbourne for Scott Thompson.
Melbourne, therefore, could conceivably play a part in the Ottens deal, since the Demons would have an additional first-round pick to play with.
http://realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/10/04/1096871814979.html
