Essendon has reportedly made an audacious first offer to Carlton as the two teams gear up to work out a trade for wantaway defender Adam Saad.
According to The Age, the Bombers asked the Blues for one of Charlie Curnow, Harry McKay or Sam Walsh for Saad.
When that was categorically denied, they then asked for young ruckman Tom De Koning and pick seven.
Essendon and list manager Adrian Dodoro have developed a reputation as one of the harder teams to deal with in the trade period in recent years.
You only have to look back at their unwillingness to budge on key forward Joe Daniher last year, who requested a trade to Sydney.
The difference this year is that Saad is out of contract, meaning the Bombers will have to deal him.
SEN Chief Sports Reporter Sammy Edmund reported last week that the rebounding defender was willing to enter the Pre-Season Draft to get out of Essendon and join Carlton.