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TIGER STRIPE NEWS
TRADE WEEK GOES STALE

Wednesday, 15th October 2003

The AFL Trade week for the Tigers has gone stale, with star Bomber defender rejecting a lucrative offer by the Tigers, namely a 3 year $1.2 million deal, while the fate of former Bulldog Nathan Brown still hangs in the balance, after being likened to a direct swap for ex-Hawk Jade Rawlings. However, the Tigers are still confident of striking a deal with the Dees, with a direct swap for the 20th draft pick for the 'Tiger on his way' Ben 'Dutchy' Holland, still a likely result.

But the Tiger faithful are still predicting a productive week in the Trade Arena, with several trade deals likely to please many. The Holland for pick 20 still remains a controversial topic, many claiming the tall forward is a valuable asset, while others concede his departure. Dutchy Holland was told after his 2003 season that his contract, which has him tied to the Tigers until the end of 2004, would not be renewed. Subsequently, any deal with the Demons would see the RFC still shelling out for Dutchy's contract for the next 12 months, in a similar situation to the much-publicised Nick Daffy trade.

Meanwhile star Bomber defender Dean Soloman today signed up with the Bombers, despite being offered a reportedly 'lucrative' deal to lure him to the Tigers in 2004. Soloman, still on holidays in London, signed on with what the Bombers purported to be 'their best offer', despite it being considerably lower than the Tigers were offering. Richmond had offered a $1.2 million deal for the next 3 years to lure the defender to Punt Road.

But in one of the AFL's most publicised 2003 trade deals, the Bulldogs' up-coming forward Nathan Brown is yet to find a home for 2004. While Brown has indicated his intention to move on into Tiger territory, his future remains unknown, pending a deal with the Western Bulldogs. The RFC allegedly offered their first two draft picks for the talented youngster, pick 6 and pick 21: an offer rejected by the counter-party. Talks on the deal will continue.

Finally, on the trade front, Tigers Ray Hall and Joel Bowden seem all but removed from the Tiger's 2004 line-up. Hall has been involved in offers to BOTH the Bombers and the Dogs, while Bowden has reportedly been put up for auction by the Tigers, available to the highest (draft based) bidder. Former Tiger, Kevin Sheedy, remarked this week that Richmond were, 'ruining football' by their aggressive trade tactics. Sheedy was allegedly 'insulted' by Richmond's offer of a direct swap, Ray Hall for Dean Soloman, to which fellow Tigers chuckled.

The Official AFL Trade week concludes at 2:00pm Friday afternoon, at which time all trades must be received at AFL Headquarters. As of Wednesday night, no trades had been finalised.

This is TS Reporting, for The Tiger Stripe.