Brisbane coach Chris Fagan has fired back at Adelaide counterpart Don Pyke for “shooting from the hip” about the Lions’ interest in Charlie Cameron.

Pyke criticised Fagan earlier this week for making public comments about Queenslander Cameron, who is rumoured to be considering a return home despite being contracted to the Crows until the end of 2018.

Fagan had told radio show Sportsday that the Lions would be keen to recruit Cameron if he was seeking to leave Adelaide.

“I was asked a question on radio to which I gave a hypothetical answer,” Fagan told reporters on Friday.

“I think people would be better off just to have a close listen to the answer I gave for that question rather than shooting from the hip because it was not my intention to upset the Adelaide Crows footy club.”

Fagan’s strong response comes after many cases in which Brisbane players — some of them under contract — have been targeted by rival clubs over the last few seasons.

Earlier this year there were suggestions Josh Schache was being chased by a number of Victorian sides.

Adelaide list manager Justin Reid also made very similar remarks to Fagan when they were trying to secure contracted Carlton star Bryce Gibbs in the most recent trade period.

Fagan said it was nice that Brisbane, who remain in wooden spoon contention but have made major strides forward this year, were being viewed as a destination club once again.

But he claimed AFL clubs were somewhat immature at dealing with speculation when it comes to their own players.

“Hopefully the reputation of our football club has changed. AFL is a very competitive business, every club is trying to improve their list,” Fagan said.

“Most clubs will go as hard as they can to do that, and that is what we will do.

“I think we handle it well when we’re the chasers, we don’t handle it so well when we’re the victims.

“But we choose to be the chasers often — all clubs do.”