On Tuesday, Port upped its offer to pick 17 and 37 for the 26-year-old ruckman-forward but whether that is enough to convince Essendon remains to be seen.
Everyone would prefer a trade to be completed before the deadline at 2pm on Thursday because there is still the prospect Ryder will head to the grievance tribunal to have his contract voided and be declared a free agent.
History suggests that prospect - and the fact the ongoing dramas from the supplements saga have affected him emotionally and caused him to want out of Essendon - has affected his price.
Ryder is reaching his peak after 170 games. He had what was regarded as his best season in 2014 but finished seventh in the club best and fairest - the fourth time he has finished in the top 10 of the club's best and fairest.
He has played in just two (losing) finals and won no higher honours.
Given at least one ruckman has been traded each year, it's possible to estimate how much of a hit Essendon is taking if it trades Ryder – which it should given the circumstances – for picks 17 and 37.
Could Adelaide, who needs a ruckman too, make a late bid for Ryder as industry observers speculated on Tuesday night, with pick 10 to muddy the waters?
While that final scenario remains unlikely, a relatively seamless trade from the Bombers to Port Adelaide might realise some public relations value that is impossible to quantify in trade terms.
YOU BE THE JUDGE
2014
Could Ryder go from Essendon to Port Adelaide for picks 17 and 37?
2013
Ben McEvoy (St Kilda to Hawthorn): Picks 18, 21 and Shane Savage for picks 24 and 59
Shaun Hampson (Carlton to Richmond): Pick 28
Trent West (Geelong to Brisbane Lions): Pick 41
Billy Longer (Brisbane Lions to St Kilda): Picks 25 and 41 to Lions for Longer and pick 48
Shane Mumford (Sydney Swans to GWS): Pick 39
2012
Tom Hickey (Gold Coast to St Kilda): Pick 13
Hamish McIntosh (North Melbourne to Geelong): Pick 36
2011
Mitch Clark (Brisbane Lions to Melbourne): Pick 12
Ivan Maric (Adelaide to Richmond): Pick 37
Josh Jenkins (Essendon to Adelaide): Pick 41 and Jenkins for pick 31
2010
Sam Jacobs (Carlton to Adelaide): Picks 33 and 67
Jonathon Griffin (Adelaide to Fremantle): Pick 61
David Hale (North Melbourne to Hawthorn): Picks 27 and 71 to North Melbourne for Hale and pick 52
Others
Darren Jolly (Melbourne to Sydney Swans): Pick 15; (Sydney Swans to Collingwood): Pick 14 and 46.
Brad Ottens (Richmond to Geelong): Picks 12 and 16.
Robbie Warnock (Fremantle to Carlton): Picks 24, 56 & 72 for Warnock and 69
*History suggests club have placed a higher premium on their first round draft picks in recent seasons.
