A FLURRY of relatively minor deals were done on the Gillette AFL Trade Period's penultimate day, but Kurt Tippett and a number of other players remain in limbo as Friday's 2pm deadline fast approaches.
 
Five trades were confirmed on Thursday, with Fremantle defender Greg Broughton moving to Gold Coast, Collingwood utility Tom Young to the Western Bulldogs, Port Adelaide midfielder David Rodan to his third AFL club, Melbourne, West Coast half-back Lewis Stevenson to Port and Carlton defender Jordan Russell to Collingwood (the official paperwork for this trade is yet to be lodged).
 
And Richmond announced on its club website on Thursday afternoon that it was "close to finalising" a trade for North Melbourne forward Aaron Edwards. The Tigers have currently offered their fourth-round pick, No.74, for Edwards, but North is holding out for a slightly better offer.
 
Tippett has hogged the limelight in recent days as reports emerged of an undisclosed addendum to his 2009 playing contract with the Crows, with the AFL launching an investigation into possible draft and salary cap violations.
 
Tippett announced ahead of this month's trade period that he wanted to join the Sydney Swans, but after almost three weeks of talks between the clubs he seems no closer to getting his wish.
 
The 25-year-old key forward now faces the very real prospect of being 'homeless' at 2pm on Friday, with the Swans almost certainly having to improve their current offer of pick No.23 and tall Jesse White to satisfy the Crows and - it seems - the AFL that the deal is fair.
 
Similarly, Port Adelaide defender/midfielder Ben Jacobs is no closer to getting to his preferred Victorian home, North Melbourne.
 
The Power are still demanding North's first-round pick, No.15, for 2010's No.16 draft pick, but at this stage the Roos are offering only the first of their two second-round picks, No.38.
 
It looks increasingly likely that Jacobs will have to nominate for November's NAB AFL Draft and take his chances that he'll still be around at pick No.38 for North to read out his name.
 
Likewise, St Kilda still has work to do in its attempts to broker a trade involving Saints utility Jamie Cripps and West Coast key defender Mitch Brown.
 
Brown's manager Liam Pickering told Gillette AFL Trade Radio on Thursday afternoon the Saints had offered the Eagles Cripps and pick No.25 in exchange for Brown, but West Coast was steadfastly refusing to part with the key defender.
 
Pickering also manages Gold Coast youngster Josh Toy and said it was increasingly likely the half-back would have to realise his ambition to join a Victorian club via the draft.
 
North's Cameron Pedersen is another player who has been at the centre of protracted trade negotiations.
 
The 25-year-old Roo utility has been seeking a trade to Melbourne, but his chances of becoming a Demon had seemed to hinge on Melbourne's ability to trade for an earlier pick than the third-round pick, No.49, they had been offering the Roos.
 
But North has shown late interest in Demons youngster Jordan Gysberts, which might help get the deal done. The Roos could ask for a pick in addition to Gysberts, however.
 
Saints veteran Farren Ray remains contracted with St Kilda but there is still a chance he will end up at Melbourne.
 
At just 26, Ray has played 157 games and in three Grand Finals (including the 2010 draw). Melbourne would be Ray's third club.
 
Although other clubs have expressed interest in trading for Essendon's Cale Hooker, the 24-year-old defender with 66 games under his belt is both contracted and a required player.
 
Sydney Swan defender Campbell Heath should make his way to Port Adelaide, with the trade expected to happen before Friday's deadline.
 
Heath is a popular figure at the Sydney Swans but has played just two games and undergone two knee reconstructions since being drafted as a 17-year-old in 2008.
 
Heath is good friends with Port forward John Butcher, with both coming from the small Victorian Gippsland town of Maffra.
 
Contrary to recent speculation, Geelong premiership ruckman Mark Blake won't be making his way to Greater Western Sydney just one year after finishing up at the Cats.
 
There was talk GWS was interested in Blake but nothing has come of their discussions and Blake is happy to concentrate on playing country football and his career in financial management.
 
Out-of-contract Collingwood half-back Luke Rounds has attracted some interest from St Kilda, but his best chance of making his way to the Saints could be in the delisted free agency period starting on November 1.
 
Nick Bowen and Peter Ryan are reporters with AFL.com.au. Follow them on Twitter: @AFL_Nick and @AFL_petryan