Melbourne holding onto slim hope it can still secure Jordan Lewis in a trade from Hawthorn
UPDATE: HAWTHORN is in “turmoil” over Jordan Lewis’s certain move to Melbourne, according to Brendan Fevola and his manager is holding talks with both clubs.
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UPDATE: HAWTHORN is in “turmoil” over Jordan Lewis’s certain move to Melbourne, according to former Carlton goalkicking great Brendan Fevola.
Fevola is adamant the gun midfielder will be a Demon next season after he was urged by coach Alastair Clarkson in a post-season meeting to consider playing elsewhere.
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Lewis’s manager Liam Pickering this morning confirmed he was having “good dialogue” with Melbourne and the Hawks about his client’s future.
Fevola said Lewis, 30, was “filthy” that Hawthorn raised the prospect of a trade with him and was now certain to join Simon Goodwin’s team next week.
“Jordan Lewis is going to Melbourne 100 per cent and it will happen next week,” Fevola said on Triple M.
“He told them I think last night, he told Hawthorn to get the deal done as soon as possible.
“He will be kicking it down Jesse Hogan’s throat (next year).
“He thought he was going to be told (by Clarkson) he would be captain next year and lead the mighty Hawks for 2017 but it was a call to say we might be squeezing you out (at the end of 2017).
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“And he said I’m out now. I’ve taken a pay cut and you’ve got these other blokes coming in.
“It goes against the whole mould that they’re trying build and he’s not a happy man.
“They (Hawks) are in turmoil”
Melbourne confirmed last night it was still very keen to land Lewis after positive talks with his manager Pickering at AAMI Park yesterday.
Pickering said this morning he was working through the situation with both clubs.
He denied his client was angry with Hawthorn.
“There are no issues, he’s not filthy, he’s not angry,” Pickering said on SEN.
“Lewy is a professional, he’s a vice-captain of the club, he finished second in their best and fairest last week. Whatever happens will happen.
“There is a good chance he will be a Hawthorn player, because he is contracted to Hawthorn but I need to keep working through it with Jordan and we will see where it goes.
“There is no timeline. I’m doing what’s best for Jordan and what he wants me to do.”
Hawthorn has insisted it will keep Lewis, but the Demons have left the door ajar for the gun ballwinner.
“We understand that Jordan is contracted to Hawthorn, but we remain interested in looking at this option,” Melbourne football manager Josh Mahoney said.
Lewis, 30, is weighing up his future following an “open and honest” post-season discussion with Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson, which raised the prospect of the four-time premiership player continuing his sparkling career at a new club.
The Herald Sun understands the All-Australian midfielder remains undecided about his next move and has already met with officials from the resurgent Demons about the prospect of joining their push for a drought-breaking finals berth.
In another dramatic day of trade developments, Lewis’s manager Liam Pickering continued talks with the Demons about the possible trade when he met with football manager Josh Mahoney at AAMI Park.
Mahoney said Lewis sought out the Demons about continuing his career there.
“We received an approach from Jordan Lewis’s management earlier this week regarding the possibility of him joining Melbourne,” Mahoney said.
“This was after discussions Jordan had with Hawthorn.”
The meeting with Melbourne signalled to the Demons that Lewis was still considering a change of clubs after initially selecting Simon Goodwin’s team as his preferred new home.
Lewis has been earmarked to play a key midfield and leadership role at Melbourne.
As late as last week, Lewis was expected to take over from Luke Hodge as Hawthorn captain next season but the tumult has raised doubts over the potential handover.
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But Hawthorn list boss Graham Wright denied Lewis was angry with the Hawks over the conversations about his future.
“I don’t think it was anger, it certainly wasn’t anger when I was with him yesterday from his point of view it’s about exploring what else might be out there for him in the future,” Wright said.
“He’s a contracted and required player.”
Melbourne is only prepared to only use a late draft pick to secure Lewis, similar to the way West Coast secured Sam Mitchell for a late swap of selections.
The upheaval means Hawthorn is at risk of losing the players who finished first and second in the club’s best and fairest count.
Mitchell and Lewis also led their contested possession tally this year.
Hawthorn has taken an aggressive approach to its list management this year as it attempts to continue its premiership dynasty, following bold plays for Sydney onballer Tom Mitchell and Richmond big man Ty Vickery.
They are also expected to welcome Gold Coast Rising Star winner Jaeger O’Meara.
Hawthorn gaining No.10 critical for Jaeger O'Meara. The Suns wanted 14 to secure Pearce Hanley, and were miffed when that went to Sydney.
— Sam Landsberger (@SamLandsberger) October 14, 2016
If Gold Coast receives No.6 and 10 next week...
— Sam Landsberger (@SamLandsberger) October 14, 2016
Suns' picks: 4, 6, 8, 10, 22, 24, 30, 44
Tigers' picks: 27, 46, 64
Hawks' picks: 57, 68, 70
Wright said the club would keep Lewis, regardless of whether the Warrnambool product requested a trade.
“He was never put on the trade table. He had an open and honest conversation with Clarko a couple weeks ago about what his future would look like,” Wright said.
“This was about his future and what it would look like beyond next year.
“That conversation was had, Jordan’s management explored that there might be something else for him after next year if he happened to finish up.
“From that perspective it was brought to us on Tuesday night, we had a brief conversation with Melbourne on Wednesday and then with Jordan yesterday and as of yesterday afternoon we decided that we really didn’t want Jordan to go anywhere and he’s a required contracted player.
“We’re not in any discussions with them (Melbourne).”
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