The brinkmanship surrounding Jake Stringer's future shows no signs of ending as the AFL trade period enters the home stretch.
Stringer jetted to the United States on Monday as negotiations between Western Bulldogs and Essendon dragged into a second week.
The Bulldogs placed the contracted forward on the trade table but have since dug their heels in, threatening to keep the 2015 All-Australian on their list unless they receive suitable compensation.
Speaking at Melbourne Airport, Stringer gave a blunt assessment of his future at Whitten Oval.
"I won't be going back," he told the Seven Network.
Essendon have offered the Bulldogs two second-round draft picks - a package worth roughly the same amount of points as the first-round selection they dealt to Greater Western Sydney for small forward Devon Smith.
The Bombers ticked another name off their wishlist, signing Gold Coast speedster Adam Saad on a three-year deal after sending a future second-round draft pick to the Suns.
Tensions between the Stringer camp and the Bulldogs continued to grow, with Stringer's father criticising the 2016 premiers for their conduct.
"He's probably been through a little bit of a public stoning," John Stringer told AFL trade radio.
"From our perspective, we thought that he was contracted at the Dogs and he was going to stay there so for them to come out publicly and say 'it's time to move on' is a little bit disappointing."
His views were echoed by the father of Melbourne forward Jack Watts, who was also put up for trade and has been courted by Port Adelaide.
"We feel Jack's been put out there as a bit of a reprobate, a misfit ... not turning up fit, not putting in a good effort, a bad influence on younger kids," Andrew Watts said.
"I think a lot of the AFL people have seen him for eight or nine years in the media and he turns up with a smile on his face and he does work hard, so we just don't understand that language."
Fremantle midfielder Lachie Weller's request for a trade to Gold Coast was one of the few surprises on a relatively quiet day of negotiations.
A deal appeared unlikely on Monday evening with News Corp Australia reporting that the Dockers had demanded Gold Coast's No.2 draft pick for the 21-year-old, who is contracted for next year.
Geelong and Gold Coast continued to negotiate behind closed doors on a trade for Gary Ablett to return to Kardinia Park.
Gold Coast list manager Scott Clayton said the club would not comment out of respect for Ablett, who was mourning the sudden death of his sister Natasha last week.
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