Carlton midfielder Sam Petrevski-Seton has requested a trade to West Coast in a move that looks set to prevent the Blues using the Western Australian product directly in their pursuit of Fremantle's Adam Cerra.
Former No.6 draft pick Petrevski-Seton had loomed as potential trade bait for the Dockers, who were told by Cerra he wants to move home to Victoria for family reasons after four seasons in the west.
But Petrevski-Seton's desire to join the Eagles, which was confirmed in a brief statement by Carlton head of football Brad Lloyd on Tuesday, has thrown a spanner in the works.
The Blues will have to get creative if they are to win the race for Cerra, with grand finalists Melbourne also in the running to secure his services.
Fremantle will demand a high-end draft pick as part of the deal, having initially selected Cerra at No.5 in the 2017 draft.
The highly-rated 21-year-old has played 76 games for the Dockers and is regarded as having leadership potential.
He knocked back a four-year contract offer from Fremantle worth about $750,000 a season.
Carlton have pick six in this year's draft, which will slide down at least two positions if, as expected, bids come for father-son prospects Nick Daicos (Collingwood) and Sam Darcy (Western Bulldogs).
Melbourne do not currently hold a first-round draft pick and appear highly unlikely to part with contracted ruck-forward Luke Jackson, who is originally from WA.
Petrevski-Seton has played 94 games in five seasons with Carlton, including just 11 starts this year as he struggled with a new role across half-back.
The 23-year-old's contract expired at the end of this season.
Carlton are reportedly set to sign Sydney midfielder George Hewett, who is a restricted free agent, while Jack Silvagni has signed a new two-year deal to stay with the Blues.
Meanwhile, Sydney star Jordan Dawson has nominated Adelaide as his preferred destination as he seeks a move home to South Australia.
The official trade period begins on October 4, nine days after this Saturday night's grand final.
Richmond are resigned to losing emerging forward Callum Coleman-Jones to North Melbourne, while fellow tall Mabior Chol is headed to Gold Coast.
But the Tigers will gain veteran Kangaroos defender Robbie Tarrant as an unrestricted free agent.
Geelong have re-signed midfielder Quinton Narkle on a one-year deal but are likely to lose versatile tall Nathan Kreuger, who has been starved of opportunities with the Cats.
Australian Associated Press
