Brisbane Lions may try to woo Adelaide’s Charlie Cameron north during AFL trade period

ADELAIDE is trying to ward off raids on their stars. And things just got worse with news one rival club is trying to woo another young Crow away from the ladder leaders.

Charlie Cameron scoots away from Jasper Pittard and Robbie Gray. Picture Sarah Reed

ADELAIDE could be rocked by the departure of a third key player with Brisbane exploring ways to poach gun speedster Charlie Cameron in this year’s trade period.

Cameron, 22, has family ties in Brisbane and is open to a move to the Queensland club if a deal can be struck.

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The Lions have been aware of Cameron’s family situation and are expected to try to entice Adelaide into a trade with a late first-round or early second round draft pick.

However, the Herald Sun understands Adelaide is prepared to block the move and keep Cameron to the final year of his contract next season.

Sources said the situation was at a standstill.

The premiership favourites are already grappling with the increasingly likely prospect that gun talls Mitch McGovern and Jake Lever will leave the club at season’s end.

Melbourne is poised to make a significant offer to Lever in a bid to thwart interest from Collingwood, Western Bulldogs and Hawthorn. Fremantle is chasing McGovern. The Crows do not want to lose Cameron as well.

The Crows have been criticised for “low-balling” their out of contract players but the club is believed to be paying close to 100 per cent of its salary cap.

Charlie Cameron has family ties to Brisbane. Picture Sarah Reed

Cameron, a damaging goal kicker, has become a key cog in Adelaide’s premiership tilt with his lightning speed and tenacious tackling pressure.

Cameron, who was originally drafted to the club on the rookie list, previously signed a contract to stay at West Lakes until the end of 2018.

If it keeps Cameron, Adelaide may have to offer the gamebreaker a sweetened contract extension next season to help thwart another trade request in 12 months’ time.

The contract situation has been met with surprise across the football industry with the Crows otherwise well-placed to win their first flag since back-to-back premierships in 1997-98.

Adelaide is $3.25 favourite with TAB to go all the way this year.

AFL champion Wayne Carey said he believed Adelaide had offered all three players attractive deals to stay.

Carey said the three in-demand young stars may want to leave the constant glare that exists in a two-team town such as Adelaide.

“Adelaide is a footy-crazy state,” Carey said. “Over there the attention on every individual (means) you can’t go anywhere or do anything because it (public focus) is all on two teams.

“Maybe that has a bit to do with it.”

Originally published as Brisbane Lions may try to woo Adelaide’s Charlie Cameron north during AFL trade period