AFL Bulldogs confident Adams will stay

The Western Bulldogs are confident impressive first-year defender Marcus Adams will play out his AFL contract despite exploring a possible move home to Western Australia.

Adams, 23, is contracted until next year and has recently held informal discussions with the Bulldogs about a return home.

However, the Bulldogs say Adams is happy to play out his contract and won’t be going anywhere, denying reports he had sought a trade.

Adams’ manager Jason Dover on Friday confirmed there had been no formal trade request.

“We’ve had some open conversations with the club over the last couple of months over where Marcus was at personally and suggested that if the right opportunity came up, we wouldn’t be opposed to it … (but) we expect he’ll be there next year,” he told AFL trade radio.

The mature-aged recruit played 11 games in his debut season but missed the premiers’ second half of the year with a foot injury.

Fremantle would almost certainly be interested in securing his services if he sought a trade home, given their ongoing struggle to find key defensive stocks.

Backline veteran Matthew Boyd has meanwhile signed a one-year contract extension which will take him into his 15th season at Whitten Oval.

The evergreen 34-year-old earned his second All-Australian selection this year, averaging 28 possessions per game and ranking sixth in the AFL for disposals out of the defensive half.

“Matthew Boyd has been an extraordinary servant to our club for many years,” Bulldogs list manager Jason McCartney said.

“To contribute the way he did in his 14th season is testament to his hard work and professionalism.”

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