Fremantle is not expected to include a player in its pitch to land young forward Cam McCarthy and must now bank on Greater Western Sydney relenting on its hard-line stance in the final four days of the NAB AFL Trade Period.
The Dockers' offer for McCarthy is pick No.22 and its 2016 first-round selection, and AFL.com.au understands no players have been put on the trade table to get the deal over the line.
It was suggested at the weekend that Fremantle could attempt to trade a player to a third club and then on-trade that pick to the Giants as part of the McCarthy deal, but sources also dismissed that option.
Midfielders Lachie Weller and Michael Barlow were floated as options in this scenario over the weekend, but AFL.com.au understands neither would be traded, with Weller rated particularly highly by the club.
GWS has been firm in its stance that it would not trade McCarthy, despite his pleas to break a two-year contract and return home to be closer to family.
As late as Sunday evening the Giants were understood to be unrelenting that their position would not change, even in the event of a player, or an improved pick, being offered to them as part of the McCarthy deal.
The Dockers are tipped to take their top selections to the 2015 NAB AFL Draft, rather than search for lesser tall forwards if they cannot secure McCarthy, who has declared he will request a trade in 12 months if he cannot move this week.
Meanwhile, discarded Docker Ryan Crowley confirmed on Sunday he would nominate for the 2015 NAB AFL Draft. Clubs can sign the tagger as a delisted free agent beforehand.
Forward Max Duffy, who was cut by Fremantle at the end of the season after two years on the list, is also determined to play on and will set himself to earn a second chance having returned from overseas.
Talks between St Kilda and Essendon over wantaway forward Jake Carlisle did not progress at the weekend after a tense finish to the first week of the trade period.
The Saints' offer of pick No.5 and No.63 in exchange for Carlisle and two second-round selections (No.23 and No.25) had been rejected by the Bombers and it is understood no counter-offers had been tabled as of Sunday afternoon.
Richmond was also unable to progress in its search for a draft pick that would land Carlton's Chris Yarran over the weekend.
The Tigers hit a roadblock when the Brisbane Lions reportedly cooled on defender David Astbury, who held the key to Richmond landing one of the Lions' selections within their target range (No.17 and No.21).
In a trade that appears set to be made official early in the week, Adam Treloar will get to Collingwood for two first-round selections, with a later pick to also change hands.
North Melbourne's interest in midfielder James Aish was again dismissed by his manager Liam Pickering, who insisted he was set on playing with Collingwood, which also needs to settle a deal for Melbourne's Jeremy Howe this week.
While West Coast has denied Grand Final sub Matt Rosa's request for a trade, it acknowledged at the weekend that Gold Coast was showing interest.
