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AFTER trade period negotiations to get him to North Melbourne failed, Ben Jacobs has quit Port Adelaide today and nominated for the AFL Draft to be held on November 22.
Just two years after being drafted by the Power with the 16th pick of the 2010 Draft, Jacobs, 20, was keen to return home to Victoria but a late burst of trade negotiations with the Kangaroos ultimately proved fruitless.
The Roos had apparently floated a number of potential deals past the Power to acquire Jacobs including a three-way deal with Melbourne, a straight swap for forward Matt Campbell and a later round draft pick and, finally, an offer of pick number 38.
(Also on Football Nation: Our 2012 Mock Draft)
The Power however wanted a pick in the first round and when the window for trading closed that offer was not forthcoming and the club sought instead to convince Jacobs to stay.
“We were not prepared to let Ben go for a pick that was below his value and one that we were not even going to use,” said Port Adelaide’s general manager of football Peter Rohde.
“Had North Melbourne been willing to negotiate over their first round no. 15 pick we would have been able to come to an arrangement, but they were adamant that wasn’t on the table.
“Port Adelaide wanted to do the right thing by Ben, but we make no apology for protecting the club’s interest and not allowing it to be cornered.”
With Jacobs leaving the club today his path back to Melbourne will now be via the draft for which he will need to officially nominate by Tuesday November 13.
As well as North Melbourne, St Kilda, Richmond and Essendon were also interested in the young defender during the trade period.
North Melbourne holds picks 15 and 38 and, given they were unwilling to trade the former to get him, will be waiting with pick 38 to acquire Jacobs. But with the Saints, Tiger and Bombers sitting at picks 25, 26, 34 and 35 it will remain to be seen where he will end up if he nominates for the draft as expected.
