Negotiations to move Sydney star Ryan O'Keefe's move to premiers Hawthorn have stalled, following the Hawks decision to take draft pick number 16 off the table.
Hawthorn's head of personnel and list management Chris Pelchen has told radio SEN it's now 'unlikely' the deal will be completed.
The move leaves the future of the star Swans' forward up in the air, less than 24 hours after O'Keefe indicated to the Hawks he was keen to join them after meeting with their coach Alastair Clarkson and chief executive Ian Robson.
But, after attempting to strike a deal today, the two clubs failed to reach an agreement.
The Swans had wanted Hawthorn's first round pick, No.16 overall, and a player in return.
But Hawks recruiting manager Chris Pelchen said they had decided they were not willing to give up the pick, even without a player.
"We said to them if they wanted to come to us with a player or collection of players or our second round pick with some players, but they said it has to be pick 16," Pelchen said.
Barring a last-minute change of heart by either club before tomorrow's 2pm (AEDT) trading deadline, O'Keefe is now very unlikely to be at Hawthorn next year.
Pelchen said talks had been amicable and the unwillingness to relinquish the draft selection was not a reflection of the value they put on 27-year-old O'Keefe.
But giving up their first round pick would have left them with No.34 as their earliest selection.
The Hawks did not believe they could take that option in what is considered a significant draft both because of the quality of youngsters available and the compromised nature of upcoming drafts with new clubs coming in.
"We had to make a decision based on would we part with pick 16, we can't afford to go that far down the draft order," Pelchen said.
He said it was now unlikely O'Keefe would get to Hawthorn.
The Sydney forward could nominate for the pre-season draft, but it would be hard for him to make it to the Hawks that way, given they are last in the selection order and salary cap restrictions mean they can not afford to pay him as much as other clubs, including the Swans.