Kurt Tippett's exit door shuts as clause hope proves false

GOLD Coast and Brisbane have been forced to re-evaluate their interest in Kurt Tippett after reports their is no "exit clause" in his contract.

kurt tippett

GOLD Coast and Brisbane have been forced to re-evaluate their interest in Kurt Tippett after reports the "exit clause" that was supposed to deliver the big Crow back home to Queensland does not officially exist.

The Suns have repeatedly claimed they would not part with top 10 draft picks or players to lure Tippett home.

The Lions remain in the hunt but it is unclear what they could tempt Adelaide with.

Brisbane's top draft pick and a player may get the deal done but the Lions have not decided if they are willing to offer that.

Rising South Australian-born midfield star Jack Redden has been mentioned as a trade but that scenario is unpalatable to the Lions and Redden.

The Courier-Mail understands a widely discussed contractual clause that demands the Crows release Tippett to a Queensland club for no more than a second-round draft pick does not exist in the official contract lodged with the AFL.

It appears to be more of a gentleman's agreement, accepted by former Adelaide football operations chief John Reid, who negotiated the deal.

Given Tippett is Adelaide's No.1-ranked player by pay scale, the Crows will play hardball in any talks.

Adelaide remain confident they will keep Tippett despite agreeing to put off all talks until the end of the season.

Tippett's delay in re-signing is likely to spark speculation he has already decided to return home amid an unfolding bidding war between Brisbane and Gold Coast.

But it is a repeat of his 2009 negotiations that dragged on until the end of Adelaide's finals campaign.

Crows football operations chief Phil Harper says talks have been stalled by the key forward's run of concussions, with three hits in five weeks.

"Kurt has had little time to consider his future," Harper said. "Now he wants to focus solely on performing on field to the best of his ability before considering his future ... (He) does not (want the contract to) become a distraction to him or anyone at the club in the lead-up to and during the finals."