LIVE updates day six; key talks continue; Dan Houston; Carlton Blues; Collingwood Magpies; Essendon Bombers

There’s three days to go in the AFL trade period, and while it all started relatively sedately last week, things are about to heat up as club’s push it until the 11th hour to finalise their deals.

Let’s look at the main transactions that need to be finalised between now and 7.30pm on Wednesday.

Looking ahead: Port Adelaide’s Dan Houston.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images

Dan Houston

This is getting interesting. Port Adelaide’s dual All-Australian defender, who is contracted for four more seasons, has not nominated a club but wants to get back to Victoria. Collingwood and North Melbourne are trying to pursue assets to convince Houston to choose them, while Carlton have the picks to reach a deal with the Power but seem content to use them at the draft. Melbourne’s deal for Essendon’s No.9 pick – which the Roos had tried to trade for – should be ratified on Monday, and fortuitously swings the Houston situation in the Magpies’ favour. The Demons were in competition with Collingwood for Gold Coast’s No.13 selection, which the Pies need to be able to broker a deal with the Power for Houston. Collingwood’s John Noble wants to get to the Suns, while Joe Richards has requested a trade to Port, so they could be tied in together. The Western Bulldogs do not appear to still be contenders. There is also still a possibility Houston remains at Alberton.

Bailey Smith

The Bulldogs believe Smith’s trade value is about pick 10, whether a selection in that realm or an equivalent return – but Geelong have only No.17. The out-of-contract midfielder missed the entire past season recovering from an ACL rupture, but was the No.7 pick in the 2018 draft, has 103 games under his belt, and does not turn 24 until December. The Dogs rejected the Cats’ offer of pick 17. If Geelong added their selection No.38 to 17, that would combine to be worth slightly more than pick 12 on the AFL’s draft value index. Would Smith risk going into the national or pre-season draft to get to the Cattery if the impasse continues?