The Trade Bell is getting louder.

Sam Edmund and Adam Simpson took control on Thursday on SEN’s Whateley.

They spoke about a number of players including Joel Amartey, Jayden Short and Alix Tauru.

Joel Amartey

“The gap is there between what Sydney are prepared to offer at this stage and what Carlton have stumped up to tempt Amartey.

“Joel’s preference is to stay at Sydney, and you can understand why. He’s not unhappy there, it’s just about signing this free agency deal.

“It’s about $200,000 a season (difference). So over the life of the five-year contract, as it’s been laid out, it’s about a $1 million difference.”

Simpson said: “The opportunity might be the thing. It’s a couple hundred grand here and there - as much as that’s a lot of money.

“But ‘you are going to be a pivotal part of our next premiership build’ versus ‘sorry, we just can’t fit you in’. These are the conversations that Dean Cox needs to have if he wants to keep him as well as Josh Fraser if he wants to get him.”

Edmund added: “The attraction from Carlton’s point of view is they don’t have to give up anything to get him, other than the money they’re paying him.”

Jesse Hogan

“Had the medical at Collingwood. Not at Gold Coast or Carlton yet.

“But I wouldn’t quite shut the door on the Blue just yet. They are there. Amartey is their priority, don’t get me wrong.

“It’s a two-year deal for him at Collingwood. You don’t move clubs for one season. He’s only 31 but he’s been banged up of late.”

Jayden Short

“Gerard Whateley and I on Tuesday spent some time discussing two Richmond elder statesmen, so that being Jayden Short and Nick Vlastuin, and what Richmond might be inclined to do to potentially further fast-track this redevelopment.

“They've already got Pick 2 in this year’s draft. They previously drafted heavily, but this is the last crack at a pure draft, if you like, before Tassie come in.

“So, both Vlastuin and Short are obviously multiple premiership players, Richmond legends, both contracted for next year, but clubs are considering.

“Now when it comes to Jayden Short, one of those clubs is Collingwood. Now there's been a consideration given to him by the Pies.

“Who knows where it goes, if it goes anywhere, but they've been on the front foot as we edge towards this exchange window, given Tim Membrey has re-signed, Ed Allan's re-signed and we were speaking about Jesse Hogan there.

“Interesting to see what lever Richmond would pull here.”

Simpson said of the Tigers: “I think Richmond need them. There's enough young players there that they need them. They're only competitive when all the five or six leaders are playing.

“So whenever Tom Lynch doesn't play, they look so vulnerable in the front half. And I know Lynch looks done, but when he's in the side, they need him through there. So I think Toby Nankervis, Short and Vlastuin, and they're important for another 12 months at least.

“They're actually the difference between winning and losing at the moment. History suggests they've gone pretty deep. I don't think it was deliberate as much as we think what Richmond did a couple of years ago.

“I think there was just a mass exodus with five or six players that wanted to leave and they went ‘Ok, well let's do it’, versus, ‘this is the plan, we're going to get rid of everyone’.

“It's obvious when you watch them, they need their leaders to be playing because the kids aren't quite ready.”

Alix Tauru

“The other thing we explored at the start of this week, which got a run on the Agenda Setters last night, clubs are saying that Alix Tauru is trying to find a way out of Moorabbin.

“Other clubs are saying that they've been contacted and asked the question, ‘are you interested in our guy?’

“Now, the motivation for this is important. Is it leverage to engineer an extension from the management at the Saints? He is contracted for one more. Or is it actually to leave because he wants to play more senior footy right now?

“He just played nine games this year, 10 last year. He's a pick 10 in the 2023 draft and I'm sure envisaged himself playing more to this stage.”

Calsher Dear

A listener texted in: ‘Can Carlton go after Calsher Dear?’

Edmund said: “The priority for them has long been Joel Amartey.

“I think Calsher Dear is one to keep an eye on at Melbourne. Collingwood have been linked to him as well and a couple of other clubs, but not for the Blues.”