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Brisbane exodus looms as Lions declare they are “open to any trade”

The AFL futures of captain Tom Rockliff and midfielder Pearce Hanley are immediate priorities for the new Brisbane regime, with the former linked to a move to Adelaide.

Oct 05, 2016, updated Oct 05, 2016
Will Tom Rockliff become a Crow?  Photo: Ben Macmahon / AAP

Will Tom Rockliff become a Crow? Photo: Ben Macmahon / AAP

Brisbane confirmed former Hawthorn football boss Chris Fagan as their new senior coach yesterday.

He joins David Noble, who left Adelaide to head up the Lions football department.

There is widespread speculation about the futures of Rockliff and Hanley following Brisbane’s disastrous season, in which they only finished above Essendon’s makeshift team at the bottom of the ladder on percentage.

The AFL website reported that Hanley toured Gold Coast’s new facilities on Tuesday.

He is contracted to the Lions, but a trade deal could be done if Brisbane deem it good enough for them.

Speaking at the media conference where Fagan was presented as their new coach, Noble said the Lions were “open to everything and anything” during the upcoming trade period.

Hanley’s manager Paul Connors said on Monday that the player would happily stay at the Lions.

But Connors added that Hanley was open to exploring his options, a comment that Noble wants clarified.

“I’m interested to understand what the reasoning behind that is,” Noble said.

Port Adelaide vice-captain Hamish Hartlett also could be on the move.

The midfielder flew to Melbourne on Tuesday to meet with teams, after being told the Power was open to trading him for a high draft pick, despite signing a long-term deal only last year.

And Collingwood forward Travis Cloke has backed his value ahead of a likely trade to the Western Bulldogs.

Cloke said he would love to work with young Bulldogs ruck-forward Tom Boyd, who starred in their grand final win over Sydney.

-AAP

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