Melbourne confident it can lure Jordan Lewis from Hawthorn

MELBOURNE has dangled a three-year carrot in front of Hawthorn star Jordan Lewis in a bid to secure the gun ball-winner.

Jordan Lewis could be on his way out of Hawthorn. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

MELBOURNE has dangled a three-year carrot in front of Hawthorn star Jordan Lewis in a bid to secure the gun ball-winner.

The Demons have grown increasingly confident Lewis will request a trade to AAMI Park after the veteran was encouraged to explore his options in a post-season meeting with Hawks’ coach Alastair Clarkson.

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Lewis, 30, last week indicated he wanted to join Melbourne, but Hawthorn chiefs have since attempted to block the move, saying the club will not trade the four-time premiership player.

Lewis’s manager Liam Pickering pushed on with negotiations with Melbourne’s football manager Josh Mahoney on Friday and said Lewis was “professional” enough to deal with his options.

The Dees have indicated they would be keen to sign the veteran for as many as three seasons, with the potential to include a performance-based trigger to guarantee the final year of the deal in 2019.

Melbourne has also earmarked a key leadership and midfield role for Lewis to help assist captain Nathan Jones next season.

Carlton goalkicking great Brendan Fevola said on Sunday a disgruntled Lewis was certain to make the switch and would 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)’,” Fevola said on Triple M.

“So he (Lewis) said, ‘OK, I’m out now. I’ve taken a pay cut and you’ve got these other blokes coming in’ (such as Tom Mitchell and Tyrone Vickery).

“It goes against the whole mould that they’re trying build and he’s not a happy man.”

Jordan Lewis could be on his way out of Hawthorn. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Melbourne would only offer a late draft pick to Hawthorn for Lewis, only days after West Coast clinched its shock trade for champion midfielder Sam Mitchell for selection No. 88.

It means Hawthorn is faced with the loss of its top-two placegetters in this year’s best-and-fairest, with Lewis finishing second in his 12th season, behind Mitchell.

Lewis is contracted to Hawthorn until the end of next season but was no certainty to be re-signed beyond 2017, as the Hawks plot some aggressive list changes to rejuvenate a group that won four premierships.

Pickering denied his client was upset with Hawthorn’s treatment.

“There are no issues. He’s not filthy, he’s not angry,” Pickering said.

“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 doing what’s best for Jordan and what he wants me to do.”

The Demons will attempt to play finals for the first time in 11 years next season as new coach Simon Goodwin takes the reins from Paul Roos.

Melbourne is also expected to clinch a deal for Essendon defender Michael Hibberd, likely in return for a second-round draft pick from either this year’s draft or next year’s lottery.