AFL’s Magpies want good deal for Dawes

Melbourne have convinced Collingwood AFL premiership forward Chris Dawes he should join them, but the Magpies say satisfying them might be harder.

The Demons were among several clubs including the Western Bulldogs, Brisbane and Carlton vying to attract the 24-year-old.

The 71-gamer on Friday settled on Melbourne as his preferred destination.

But with Dawes still contracted to Collingwood, Magpies football manager Geoff Walsh said he would not be leaving without a decent return.

“The first step is the player choosing where they want to go but that’s often the easiest part,” Walsh told AAP.

Dawes’ manager Ben Niall suggested a trade could happen quickly and that Melbourne’s late first round draft pick, No.20, picked up in a trade with Greater Western Sydney, would be appropriate compensation.

But Walsh was coy on whether that would be enough of a return for Dawes, who was part of Collingwood’s 2010 flag-winning team.

Niall said Dawes’ relationship with Demons coach Mark Neeld, a former Collingwood assistant, contributed to his decision.

“If you go somewhere where you know your boss a bit better obviously you feel more comfortable,” Niall told the AFL website, adding the idea of playing a key role at a rebuilding club also appealed.

“When he came into Collingwood there was already a terrific culture in place, which had obviously a huge influence on his own football and his own output and the like.

“The opportunity to go to another club where he’s really going to be responsible for helping build the culture and the values and the way you do things appeals to Chris.”

Dawes’ decision to leave the Magpies came after Collingwood last week recruited West Coast key forward Quinten Lynch as a free agent, which left Dawes facing a fight to keep his spot in the side.

The Demons are also in negotiations which could net them North Melbourne fringe key position player Cameron Pedersen while they have also sounded out Essendon tall forward Scott Gumbleton.

Midfielder Brent Moloney’s move to Brisbane was completed on Friday as the Demons officially confirmed they would not match the Lions’ offer for the restricted free agent.

Hawthorn defender Tom Murphy, dropped by the Hawks for this year’s AFL grand final, joined Gold Coast as an unrestricted free agent.

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