THE LIONS have sent a firm message to the Club’s young playing list as the AFL trade period begins this week.
A number of the Lions’ first and second round National Draft picks have been traded away from the Club in recent seasons. On Thursday, out-of-contract midfielder James Aish nominated Collingwood as his preferred destination for 2016.
List Manager Peter Schwab told ABC Grandstand on Saturday that the Lions will stand by a decision not to trade Aish.
“That’s 100% correct, I can’t state it any more emphatically."
“We feel that as a second year player, he was taken number seven in the draft (2013), if we can only get players staying for two years, that’s no way to build our list.”
Schwab said the Club are comfortable with the decision to reject the request, resulting in Aish having to nominate for the pre-season draft.
“We made that stand, we don’t feel compensation from a trade is satisfactory.
“It’s happened before that players have gone through (to the draft), Nick Stevens went through the pre-season draft from Port Adelaide and Luke Ball was at St Kilda and he went into the National Draft and he actually got Collingwood which was the club he wished to go to,” Schwab said.
“That’s where we’re at.”
Schwab said the Club will begin negotiations with the West Coast Eagles today for contracted midfielder Jack Redden who has requested a trade to the Eagles.
“Jack’s a bit different, he’s a seven, eight-year player with more than 100 games.
“He’s given good service to the Club so we’re happy to look at something for Jack if that’s what he wants to do.”
