Essendon could force a trade for star forward Joe Daniher's departure to Brisbane, with the Lions' contract offer potentially dropping the Bombers' compensation to a late first-round selection, per The Herald Sun's Sam Landsberger.
Brisbane are understood to have offered a five-year, $3 million deal for the 26-year-old, who - for the second time in 12 months - has looked to walk from Tullamarine.
The key forward requested a move to Sydney last year, with the Swans offering pick nine in last years draft, and a future first-round selection which would have landed at third overall in the upcoming 2020 draft.
Daniher is understood to be wanting out of Melbourne, holding recent discussions with members of Brisbane that look to have swayed his decision to nominate the Queensland club as the team of his choice.
While the Lions' lucrative offer will hand Essendon a likely late-first round selection (pick No. 20), the deal is full of incentives if the forward can re-ignite his 2017 form, meaning the offer is unlikely to match compensation for a potential pick as early as pick No.7.
The AFL will take into account Daniher's age and guaranteed money when they determine the compensation Essendon will receive for losing Daniher, and with a later pick falling into their lap, the Bombers wanting more.
Essendon would be leaning towards matching the Lions' offer and forcing a trade for Daniher, with Brisbane currently holding picks No.18 and No.19 in the upcoming draft.
For Brisbane, their best play would be to offer Daniher a sum that would see the Bombers satisfied with their compensation and would not look to force a trade instead.
