Exit Dawes stuck shut at Pies

Chris Dawes is keen to go to Melbourne but the Magpies aren't making it easy. Picture: Wayne Ludbey. Source: Herald Sun

COLLINGWOOD is refusing to give Chris Dawes an easy exit to Melbourne, suggesting the Demons' pick No.20 may not be enough in return.

Dawes, 24, yesterday nominated Melbourne - 200m down the road - as his club of choice a week after telling the Pies he wanted to be traded.

On holiday in California, he made his decision yesterday after attracting interest from Carlton, the Western Bulldogs and Brisbane Lions.

But Collingwood said Dawes, who is contracted for next year, was a long way from pulling on a red and blue jumper.

Football manager Geoff Walsh last night said: "It's certainly not a done deal."

Dawes' manager Ben Niall was confident the clubs could reach a deal, suggesting that the No.20 pick Melbourne acquired from GWS would be fair.

"I think a late first round pick is reasonable, but it's not for me to say. It's up to Collingwood and Melbourne to get something done," Niall said.

But Walsh said the Pies would hunt the best offer.

"There are probably some better offers around than pick No.20, to be blunt," Walsh said.

"There's quite a few clubs who have expressed interest in Chris.

"We'll talk to Melbourne and if we can do something with them then well and good, but it certainly won't be done at the expense of what we think is a fair and equitable deal.

"Chris made his intentions known that he would like to be traded.

"I suppose from his point of view he looked at Quinten Lynch coming in and said, `Does that marginalise my position?'. But we're not hell-bent on getting him out. Far from it. It may be status quo in the end. Who knows?"

Melbourne list manger Tim Harrington last night released a statementsaying: "We will now be working to facilitate a trade with Collingwood."

Niall said Dawes had faced a "very hard decision" and chose Melbourne to fast-track his development.

"Chris genuinely looked at the opportunity to be more of a leader and I suppose to be part of creating a winning culture rather than being a participant," Niall said.

"He wants to express himself and set standards so there's an opportunity there that wouldn't be there at Collingwood."

Melbourne has picks 4, 20, 26 and 45 in next month's national draft.

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