Both North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs remain in the dark on what Caleb Daniel's plans are for the future, while discussions on a trade deal between the Dogs and St Kilda for teammate Jack Macrae are yet to progress.
Both players are contracted for the coming seasons and would need to be traded to depart the Kennel, with Dogs list manager Sam Power stressing that keen rivals will have to satisfy the club's demand to attain either premiership player.
Unlike Macrae, Daniel is yet to lodge a trade request as he weighs up his future, with the small-framed utility aware of interest from the Kangaroos this off-season.
Daniel and his management have not indicated a desire to leave the club but have failed to categorically rule out a move this trade period, too.
"There's no indication from Caleb or his management that he wants to play anywhere else next year. Caleb is a required player," Power said.
"He's got two more years on a contract, is vice-captain of the club and players a variety of roles. As I said, we haven't heard anything from Caleb or his manager that would suggest otherwise."
The Kangaroos remain keen to lure Daniel to Arden Street, hoping to add the Dogs player to their list alongside West Coast veteran Jack Darling and Sydney midfielder Luke Parker.
North Melbourne list manager Brady Rawlings said the club is waiting by the phone for a decision from Daniel.
"We're waiting to hear from Caleb," Rawlings said.
"We put our position forward to him and hopefully hear from him soon. He's a player we'd like to bring to the club, we're looking for a bit more rebound and decision-making off half-back.
"We think we can get that through Caleb."
Power is set to open discussions with St Kilda over the next week around what the club could earn in return for Macrae's potential departure.
The three-time All-Australian has expressed a desire to land at Moorabbin after 12 years with the Dogs, who want the best return in any trade deal, with Macrae potentially held to his contract if the Saints fail to appease Power.
"At this stage, we haven't had a conversation, St Kilda haven't reached out about Jack specifically," Power said.
"Our conversations with Jack are around that any player that requests a trade that we'll try and be respectful. You listen to what the other party's got to say. At the end of the day, they've got to satisfy us in a trade.
"Jack is fully across that and understands that if a suitable trade can't be reached that he's a Bulldogs player.
"[The Saints] are trying to buy the player, so they've got to satisfy us. How they play that is up to them."
St Kilda confirmed an agreement for Macrae is some distance away, with negotiations at the very earliest of stages.
"He's a contracted player at another club, there's a fair bit of water to go under the bridge," St Kilda football manager David Misson said of the situation.
"If anything was to happen there, we'd need to talk to the Bulldogs. But very, very, very preliminary conversations.
"We're a long way away from bringing in a player like that. We've got a fair bit of work to do."
The 2024 AFL Trade Period opened on Monday morning and will run until 7:30 pm (ADST) on Wednesday, October 16.
