A further exchange of picks is likely and may include Adelaide receiving the draft pick Melbourne receive for the outgoing Jack Watts. On a day of negotiation but no consummation Watts toured the Geelong facilities and was courted to move. Three clubs remain in the running for Watts – the Cats, Port Adelaide and the Swans. GWS and Essendon met over a trade for Devon Smith with the Giants pitching Smith and their pick 23 for Essendon's pick 11. The Suns have offered a similar arrangement, offering their pick 22 and Adam Saad for pick 11. The Bulldogs want pick 11 for Stringer alone. Essendon have offered the Dogs pick 11 for Stringer and the Bulldogs pick 26 but that deal has been rejected. The Bombers' Travis Colyer also emerged as potential player in the negotiations as a means of securing more picks to help the deal on the three players. The fast-running player is from Western Australia and is understood to be open to a trade back home where West Coast had some interest but it appears unlikely to eventuate as the Eagles would only consider a pick later than helpful to the deal. Adelaide skipper Taylor Walker said Lever had chosen money over success in asking for a trade to Melbourne.

Walker said he "did not have a crack" at Lever when he said he wanted out of the club "I was pretty honest because I don't like people leaving our footy club," he told Triple M. "I said if that was the decision he wanted to make then I'm not going to agree with him because I don't like people leaving our footy club. But I don't think I was arrogant or aggressive towards him. I was probably just blunt." The Crows captain said Lever called him two days after losing the grand final to tell him of his decision. "It was pretty much to do with money. He said he had decided to leave the footy club and I said, 'Mate, if that's the decision you want to make two days out from losing a grand final ...'

"I think our footy club is going in the right direction. I pretty much said to him he's choosing money over success." In other moves Geelong's Darcy Lang, who had been touted as a potential trade option for Gary Ablett, has toured North Melbourne's facilities and is considering a shift. After 44 games, the 21-year-old was not offered a new contract at the Cats despite an outstanding performance in the semi-final against Sydney in his return game after a long lay-off. Lang would prefer to continue his career in Victoria and has also been linked with Carlton,. A potential new home for Cats free agent Dan Menzel is yet to emerge despite the 26-year-old kicking 40 goals in 2017. Geelong have put a modest offer to Menzel but he is continuing to test the market ahead of Sunday's free agency deadline.

Gold Coast were waiting on a decision from free agent Steve Motlop, who met the new Suns coach Stuart Dew on Tuesday. Motlop has flown home to Darwin to consider an offer of more than $600,000 a year from Adelaide. Port Adelaide have made a strong offer and hope family connections at the club will sway Motlop. Collingwood are set to trade in little-known Sydney forward Sam Murray, who had 16 disposals in the NEAFL grand final. The rookie 20-year-old, who is a fast and tough small forward, impressed in 18 NEAFL games this season but did not crack it for a senior game and his opportunities are likely to be limited at the Swans. The Magpies also delisted four players including Lachie Keeffe and Henry Schade. Keeffe returned to the Collingwood list this year after a long suspension for drug use. Schade was a rookie pick after being delisted by Gold Coast. He played eight games this season and kept Lance Franklin goalless in the win over Sydney.