SEN news breaker Sam McClure believes Devon Smith to Essendon isn’t a done deal, with another Victorian club potentially swooping in at the stroke of midnight.
Smith, along with Gold Coast speedster Adam Saad and 2015 All-Australian Jake Stringer, have all focused in on the Bombers being their preferred club. However, Essendon faces a major challenge in meeting the return value that the Giants, Suns and Bulldogs have placed on their jettisoned talents.
This development has led to one Victorian club holding out hope they can still acquire Smith.
“Essendon’s inability to get all three deals done for Jake Stringer, Adam Saad and Devon Smith, I believe, has set the St Kilda footy club re-circling Devon Smith with the thought they can get the deal done,” McClure told SEN Breakfast.
“I’m told one of their first round picks, picks seven and eight, are on the table. It’s not a direct swap of course, but could involve a deal that may see them go later down the draft, give one of those picks to GWS, and Devon Smith makes his way to the St Kilda footy club.
“There is a lot of water to go under the bridge and I still think Essendon are favourites, but if they can not get the deal done, Devon Smith is not going back to GWS. He is going back to Victoria.”
McClure is also reporting the Bombers “are having a hard time satisfying all three deals,” because each club is asking for pick 11, Essendon’s first rounder, in return.
Former list manager Chris Pelchen isn’t sure Smith would fit at the Saints, saying, “my concern for St Kilda is it’s another smaller midfielder and I don’t think it is what they need.”