Going to the Dogs? Brent Prismall's future in the AFL is in doubt. Photo: Paul Rovere
BRENT Prismall could be left without a spot on an AFL list next year after yet another twist in his roller-coaster off-season.
The former Essendon and Geelong midfielder has trained with three clubs since last season and it had appeared almost certain he would continue his career with one of those teams.
But two of those doors are officially closed leading into Tuesday's pre-season and rookie drafts, leaving his latest club - the Western Bulldogs - as his best chance of securing an AFL lifeline.
However, the Dogs have baulked at guaranteeing Prismall the final position on their list, the club saying on Sunday that he was down to the last two, along with Brett Goodes, the brother of Sydney Brownlow medallist Adam.
Goodes, who is also the Dogs' player welfare officer, and Prismall will have a final chance to impress at training on Monday before coach Jason McCartney and the rest of the club's list management team make their decision.
It is believed, however, that Prismall, who lives in Melbourne's inner-west and has a good relationship with McCartney - having played under him when he was an assistant at Geelong and Essendon - is the front-runner.
Prismall reportedly knocked back a one-year deal with Port Adelaide.
Power football manager Peter Rohde confirmed that the 26-year-old rejected the offer because he wanted the security of a two-year contract if he was going to move his family to Adelaide.
It is believed Port was not prepared to offer such a deal as it had doubts over Prismall's injury history, which includes two knee reconstructions.
Another option for Prismall, who has played 61 games in six seasons after being a second-round draft pick, had been the Bombers re-drafting him after delisting him in November.
Coach James Hird vowed to re-draft Prismall who trained with the Bombers before deciding to try his luck at Port.
That move effectively ended his chances at Essendon, with the Bombers confirming yesterday that Prismall was off their radar.
Essendon will select only one of the players who has been training with it and it is understood the choice has been narrowed to three, with West Australian speedster Dayle Garlett, a cousin of Carlton's Jeff, looming as the front-runner despite his behavioural issues.
Essendon will use its one pick in the rookie draft on Ariel Steinberg.
Eleven clubs will share the 17 selections in Tuesday's pre-season draft, but it seems likely as few as seven or eight of those picks will be used as teams opt to hold over spots on their lists for rookies.
Kurt Tippett is the biggest name in the talent pool, but it appears certain he will get through to Sydney at pick No. 11 because of the price tag he has put on his contract terms.
Greater Western Sydney has already committed to re-drafting veteran ruckman Dean Brogan, but - in a late twist - seems poised to pounce on former Carlton swingman Bret Thornton with its second selection, instead of ex-Bombers big man Jason Laycock as expected.
Richmond seems set to offer former Geelong ruckman Orren Stephenson another chance as a rookie-listed player.
If so, former Collingwood big man Cameron Wood, who has also been training with the Tigers, could go overlooked.
Port Adelaide has already made clear its intentions to pick up Sam Colquhoun, an All-Australian defender at under-18 level who also trained with Essendon.
Nick Joyce, the fall-guy out of Adelaide's Kurt Tippett fiasco, is also likely to be redrafted.
Delisted players Ben Hudson, Peter Yagmoor, Andrew Collins, Ben Speight and Cameron Richardson are among those likely to be picked up in the rookie draft.
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