Port's willingness to part with pick No.16 and a player clearly places it in a stronger position to satisfy Essendon than the Lions, who are unwilling to part with pick No.4 – which they would give up for Collingwood's Dayne Beams, who has requested a trade to the Lions and is likely to be offered a heavily frontloaded, five-year contract, in which he would average close to $750,000 per annum but exceed a million dollars a season in the first two years – a period when the Lions should have significant salary cap room.

The Gold Coast Suns will also investigate whether Beams is potentially available to them, though they have not been on Beams' radar and were surprised to hear he wanted to leave Collingwood. Beams has told the Pies he wants to play with his brother Claye at Brisbane.

The Bombers have vowed to play hardball in negotiations over Ryder, who has indicated he wants them to be compensated and, ideally, does not wish to leave the club by resort to legal action, arguing that the Dons breached his contract (through the supplements program).

Essendon has said it wants Port's young gun Chad Wingard in return for Ryder. Port also has indicated a desire to trade with Essendon, rather than wait for Ryder to pursue legal avenues.

The Power have made the club's indigenous programs and player group a major part of the pitch to Ryder. Port has five indigenous players – Chad Wingard, Jake Neade, Jarman Impey, Karl Amon and Brendon Ah Chee. It also employs Paul Vandenbergh, a senior indigenous adviser at the club who was also part of the pitch to Ryder.