Tippett’s future an AFL trade hot topic

Kurt Tippett’s future shapes as the hottest topic of the upcoming AFL trade period after the star forward confirmed he was leaving Adelaide.

The go-home factor favours Gold Coast and Brisbane but premiers Sydney have not ruled out also making a bid for the talented big man, who almost helped the Crows to this year’s grand final with a superb preliminary final performance against Hawthorn.

While the Suns and Lions have been open about their interest in the 25-year-old Queenslander, Sydney coach John Longmire was coy on Tuesday when asked about the Swans’ prospects of luring him.

“We don’t comment on what happens at this time of the year because there’s a lot of speculation,” Longmire said.

“In the end you just get caught up in it all and we don’t do that, we don’t deal that way. We just go about our business and see what happens.”

Collingwood are seemingly out of the race, after recruiting West Coast premiership forward Quinten Lynch on Tuesday.

Lynch, who was an unrestricted free agent, signed a two-year deal with the Magpies.

He has been earmarked to play the forward-ruck role with Collingwood that Tippett has filled with the Crows.

As Tippett is not a free agent, he can not move until next Monday’s opening of the trade period.

But he made public his decision to leave the Crows on Tuesday, including sending a text message to teammates to tell them it was one of the toughest decisions he has had to make.

Crows recruiting manager David Noble said Adelaide had fought hard to try to keep him.

“I can assure members and supporters that the club could not have done any more to try to convince Kurt to stay with our club,” Noble said.

Also on Tuesday, Geelong confirmed their interest in Melbourne defender Jared Rivers, an unrestricted free agent and North Melbourne ruckman Hamish McIntosh, who would have to be traded by the Kangaroos.

Melbourne confirmed their interest in Collingwood’s Chris Dawes, who is contracted to the Magpies for next season, but who faces added selection competition from Lynch, given he plays a similar role.

The Demons are also among several clubs chasing Gold Coast youngster Josh Caddy, who has told the Suns of his desire to return to Victoria and could potentially form part of a deal to help Gold Coast snare Tippett.

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