This may have been covered somewhere in the last 17 pages but can someone clarify Jackson's contractual situation? If he is out of contract, is the following correct - he either arranges a trade that Melbourne is happy with or he goes in one of the end of year drafts. If it is the later, he nominates a salary and clubs can choose to pick him up in the pre-season (?) draft (starting with N,Melb and then WCE). Freo wouldn't get a bite until well into the processes.
If the above is correct, WCE could potentially have a strong hand if Freo cant swing a deal that Melbourne is happy with. If WCE punt on the salary cap increasing significantly over the coming years due to the new TV rights deal and they take into account that their current salary cap pressure will be short lived (as they have a lot of old players about to exit), they could offer a long term deal with a big back end and grab Jackson via the draft without needing to trade much at all (not that I think Melbourne would let that happen).
My only hope is that we don't sell the farm to get Jackson (think Kelly at WCE). Recent history has shown the importance of a balanced team versus a few over paid individuals.
www.foxsports.com.au/afl/teams/west-coas...7f92db83444ea4ddd6b8