Adelaide have warned they could use the AFL pre-season draft to secure sought-after wingman Jordan Dawson amid an ongoing trade battle with Sydney.
While most clubs lean towards reaching trade agreements, the Crows have shown they are not afraid to go down the pre-season draft route.
They used it last year to recruit GWS midfielder Jackson Hately.
Adelaide are unwilling to cough up their first pick in this year's national draft - No.4 overall - in exchange for Dawson.
Their next selection is 23 but that will not satisfy the Swans, who offered Dawson a five-year contract and rate the skilful 24-year-old the best player on the trade market.
There has been discussion around the Western Bulldogs' pick 17 as a key to unlock the Dawson deal, with the beaten grand finalists needing to acquire more draft points to match a bid for father-son prospect Sam Darcy.
Adelaide football director Mark Ricciuto said the pre-season draft could come into the picture if they cannot reach middle ground with Sydney before next Wednesday's deadline.
"It's certainly not the way clubs like to do deals - they like to reward the club that had the player," Ricciuto told Triple M Adelaide.
"But I guess at the end of the day if it (a trade) doesn't happen, I guess that's an alternative."
Dawson is originally from South Australia and wants to return to his home state.
He nominated Adelaide as his preferred destination last month.
Sydney football boss Charlie Gardiner said in a radio interview on Tuesday that the Swans rate Dawson ahead of Fremantle midfielder Adam Cerra, who has requested a trade to Carlton.
"Sydney have got to try and get their best deal, that's what trade week is all about," Ricciuto said.
"It goes on for 10 days, there's a lot of bluffing, it's a game of poker a bit and Charlie Gardiner is having a crack at this stage."
Meanwhile, Port Adelaide have picked up GWS forward Jeremy Finlayson for a future third-round pick.
Finlayson has played 66 games and was contracted to the Giants for the next two seasons, but requested a move to SA for personal reasons.
Also on Wednesday, Geelong confirmed their interest in former Adelaide and Richmond small forward Tyson Stengle.
Stengle had his contract terminated by the Crows last year after a series of off-field indiscretions, but starred for Woodville-West Torrens in the SANFL in 2021.
The 22-year-old has attracted the attention of multiple AFL clubs and is a cousin of retired champion Eddie Betts, who is joining the Cats in a development role.
"We think he's had a terrific period with Woodville-West Torrens, in a premiership team," Geelong list manager Stephen Wells told SEN.
"We do have some interest in Tyson.
"We haven't committed to him yet, it's not just us who want him.
"He'll have to make that decision himself."
