Brisbane have dropped a bombshell on the opening day of the AFL trade period, declaring they will listen to offers for Josh Schache.
AFL clubs convened at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne on Monday morning for the first round of official trade meetings where the Lions made the surprise announcement.
The No.2 pick at the 2015 draft signed a two-year deal to remain with the Lions earlier this season, but the club confirmed that the Victorian forward remains intent on moving back to his home state.
“We got on the front foot with Josh and his manager and had a conversation, and if things work out with both parties, we’d be interested (in trading him),” Lions football chief David Noble said.
“We’ve had a mature conversation more than anything about Josh’s desire to go home, and we had that conversation open and honestly when he re-signed that we thought there’d be a point in time where he would consider going home.”
Brisbane are also intent on landing Adelaide speedster Charlie Cameron and Hawthorn veteran Luke Hodge at this year’s trade period.
Representatives from Essendon and Adelaide, who will both be major players at this year’s trade period, did not stop to talk to reporters.
In other developments on Monday morning:
* Carlton list manager Andrew McKay revealed midfielder Bryce Gibbs has not handed the Blues a fresh trade request after last year’s failed attempt to move to the Crows.
* Geelong have confirmed their interest in trading for Melbourne’s Jack Watts.
* Greater Western Sydney have firmly rebuffed St Kilda’s interest in contracted defender Adam Tomlinson.
* Hawthorn list manager Graham Wright has confirmed his club’s priority is trading for contracted Port Adelaide speedster Jarman Impey.