Josh Dunkley's manager, Liam Pickering, has claimed that a deal that would allow the premiership winner to trade the Whitten Oval for a fresh start with the Lions will still get done before the deadline.
Dunkley requested a trade to the Sunshine State midway through September, however, a pricetag for the 25-year-old's services has yet to be agreed upon.
In an effort to successfully draw a pair of blue-chip father-son selections in Will Ashcroft and Jaspa Fletcher, as well as Hawks veteran Jack Gunston and Dunkley himself, Brisbane has been forced to get busy this off-season.
But while solid ground on a deal for Dunkley is yet to be found, Pickering told AFL Trade Radio that his client's desire to leave the Kennel would necessitate an agreement being reached.
"I'm confident (a deal gets done), he doesn't want to be at the Bulldogs. He wants to go to Brisbane," Pickering stated.
"Hopefully, the two teams can work out something they're all happy with."
Despite previous suggestions that the Dogs may let Dunkley walk to the pre-season draft, Pickering stressed that this would not be in the Pups' best interest.
"That would be ludicrous. They'd get nothing for him. That's just cutting off your nose to spite your face" the former Roo and Cat added.
"They've got a good relationship, Josh and the coach (Luke Beveridge), so I would hope that it doesn't end up in that situation because I think that would be a poor reflection when they have got a good relationship."
When quizzed as to whether he believed the Bulldogs were bluffing with their altered stance, Pickering claimed that he was still at a loss regarding their intentions.
"I don't know whether they're bluffing or not," he answered.
"I know what they want and I know what Brisbane has offered. They need to work through it, the two of them.
"I don't think they're far apart (on a fair price), I personally don't, but that's not how the Bulldogs are seeing it at the moment.
"I think it should be getting done."
Pickering signed off by contending that the Sam Power and the Bulldogs' list management collective had set Dunkley's price at two first-round draft picks.
The long-term agent also predicted that negotiations would likely enter the eleventh hour.
At present, Brisbane is currently armed with picks 19, 34, 35, 36, 38, 48, 55, 73, and 91 after having their hand bolstered following a mutually beneficial pick swap with Geelong on Friday afternoon.
