ADELAIDE club champion Patrick Dangerfield expects the Crows and Geelong to reach an agreement in October – preventing him from entering the draft.
The 25-year-old claimed his first Malcolm Blight Medal on Saturday night as the Crows' best and fairest, just days after the club publicly confirmed he would seek a move to Victoria in October.
As a restricted free agent the Crows can match any offer the Cats may put forward and force them to trade for Dangerfield, as CEO Andrew Fagan has suggested they would to achieve maximum compensation.
If no trade is reached Dangerfield could technically enter himself into the draft to get to the Cats, which would mean Adelaide would lose him for nothing.
He said such a scenario was unlikely.
"I certainly hope that it's a fair deal for both parties – that will obviously take its course – the season has only just finished for us and the free agency period and trade period is some while away," Dangerfield said.
"I think both the Geelong Football Club and the Adelaide Football Club can come to some sort of arrangement.
"I'm not sure what that is but I'm sure it will be fair and equitable for all."
Dangerfield described the call to return home as the toughest he's ever had to make, but said the lure of family combined with the opportunity to start his own in the place where he and fiancée Mardi grew up was too attractive.
Speaking without notes in front of more than 700 people at Adelaide's Convention Centre, he said he felt as though he had 'turned his back' on his teammates.
He understood the disappointment felt by some, he just wanted them to know the truth behind his decision to leave the club.
"Football is a huge part of my life but it isn't my life, it isn't the number one thing that drives me – that of course is family," he said.
"Over the journey [club personnel] become far more than just work colleagues and acquaintances, they really become part of your family.
"So to turn my back on that is incredibly difficult, it certainly brings up a huge range of emotions.
"Standing here in front of everyone, it's very difficult because I understand it's a decision not too many people were too pleased about but I'd hope that they understand it's [made] in the right manner.
"I've made it in the best interests of myself and Mardi and the family we would like to start and head back to.
"There's a certain amount of selfishness you have to have when you're making a decision such as this."
Dangerfield's decision to leave West Lakes was made well before the club's finals campaign began.
He insisted the delay in going public with his desire to return to the Geelong area was out of his control and, at times, was an uncomfortable charade to maintain.
"There's certainly times when you would like to be more truthful…you have to sort of dance around certain questions because it's simply not appropriate to say at that time," he said.
"My decision was made before the finals started so there's questions you have to dance around but to be honest that was done with the best interests of the football club at heart."
