Trade news: Updates on Tom Lynch, Christian Petracca, Jack Watts, Aaron Francis and more

IF MELBOURNE wants Jake Lever, Adelaide is going to play hard ball. Trade updates on 10 players you may not have heard about so far.

Gold Coast captain Tom Lynch. Picture: Michael Klein

ADELAIDE raised Christian Petracca’s name during trade talks with Melbourne over Crows defender Jake Lever.

Player manager Paul Connors revealed today the Crows were playing hard ball about their star defender, who seems certain to return home to Victoria.

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He was asked at today’s launch of AFL Trade Radio if the Crows had raised Christian Salem or Jack Watts as trade options if Lever joins the Demons.

“They’ve asked about another (Melbourne) player but not those two,” Connors said.

“It was knocked on the head straight away.

“I heard the rumour about Christian Salem, I don’t think that’s true. He’s away overseas and I think he’ll be at Melbourne next year, and Wattsy, I think he’s just been thrown in this with the Lever (talk). But it’s an interesting period, isn’t it? Every name’s going to get brought up.”

Christian Petracca is in demand.

Tom Lynch is set to attract plenty of interest from rival clubs. Picture: Michael Klein

Pressed on Petracca, he said: “They (the Crows) like Christian Petracca as a player.

“Christian Petracca will play all his footy in Melbourne ... he loves his family and he loves Melbourne footy club. He’s going nowhere.”

Jake Stringer and Gary Ablett were top of the agenda at today’s event, but Connors, Liam Pickering and Essendon list manager Adrian Dodoro were quizzed about a series of players including some who’s names have not been widely reported in trade discussions. Here’s a quick run-down:

WILL TOM LYNCH COMMIT TO THE SUNS LONG-TERM?

Connors: “I don’t think he’ll extend in the very near future but it’s a great question because they haven’t got a coach, so I think they’ve got a lot of challenges ahead. He is totally committed to the club though, you won’t meet a finer person.

“I think it’s fair enough that we let him play, I don’t think we read anything into that. He loves the club, he can think of nothing better than playing finals with these boys and I think we’ll let it play out a bit before becoming a circus.”

IS AARON FRANCIS STAYING AT ESSENDON?

Dodoro: “I’ve met with a lot of clubs and he’s one player that gets asked about regularly. He’s a contracted player for the next two years and we have extremely high regard for him as a player. We’ve got him to the point now his fitness is really good ... we’re expecting a really good year from him next year and we’re pretty sure it will be at the Bombers.”

High draft pick Aaron Francis has found it tough to break into Essendon’s senior line-up. Picture: George Salpigtidis

Gold Coast defender Matt Shaw could be heading to Carlton. Picture: Glenn Hampson

WILL RORY THOMPSON BE ON THE MOVE?

Pickering: “Rory’s got two years to go on a contract up there (at Gold Coast) so I’d be surprised. Clubs ask about him all the time ... This time last year I didn’t think we’d be discussing Jordan Lewis, so things change.”

HAS GOLD COAST’S MATT SHAW MET WITH CARLTON?

Pickering: “Guys who are out of contract absolutely we are talking to new clubs — you have to be.”

IS ESSENDON INTERESTED IN TOM ROCKLIFF?

Dodoro: “Tom’s a really good player. He probably doesn’t fit our demographic for where we’re going as a club. We probably identify guys who are 22 or 23 years of age to go with our current group of younger players who we’ve got. He’s a very good player but he’s probably not in our sights.”

WHAT ABOUT STEWART CRAMERI?

Dodoro: “That’s an interesting one. Given he was a former player of the club we’d like to see where he’s at, but it’s not a priority for us at this point in time.”

CAN YOU RULE OUT LUKE HODGE PLAYING FOR GOLD COAST?

Connors: “I think I can.

“Every club has been inquiring about Luke Hodge from playing to coaching to leadership.

He’s just enjoying retirement at the moment.

“If he was doing something it’s more likely coaching and the leadership. I don’t see him doing something (different) next year, but it’s a funny game.

“There’s a good chance he’ll be coaching at another club, I don’t think it will be Gold Coast because they don’t have a coach unless he goes as the main coach — but I don’t think that’s a headline just yet.”