Adelaide key defender Tom Doedee is set to join the Brisbane Lions as a restricted free agent after rejecting an approach from AFL premiers Collingwood.
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Doedee has been in the Crows' leadership group for the past four years and was at one stage considered a future club captain, but is on the move after a season cut short by injury.
The 26-year-old ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in June and will be out of action for the first half of the 2024 season.
Doedee, who sustained a similar injury in his left knee in 2019, has played 82 games for Adelaide over six years.
In a statement on Wednesday, Brisbane confirmed Doedee had signalled his desire to join the club.
"The Lions will now work with the Crows to acquire Doedee via the AFL free agency process," the club said.
Doedee's status as a restricted free agent means Adelaide have the option to match the Lions' contract offer, potentially forcing them into a trade.
If not, the Crows would likely receive a second-round draft pick as compensation for losing Doedee through free agency.
Doedee had also attracted some interest from Collingwood, who beat the Lions in last weekend's grand final.
In a statement, Adelaide list boss Justin Reid said the club would assess its options in order to secure the best possible outcome during the free agency window.
The window starts on Friday and runs until October 13, while the trade period is open from October 9 to 18.
Meanwhile, Gold Coast are hopeful Ben King will accept an offer to extend his contract over the off-season.
King, 23, kicked 40 goals in 20 games this season on return from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
His existing contract runs out at the end of 2024, with the Suns keen to tie up their star forward before rival clubs can tempt him away.
"There's no actual clause in his contract, he's got an offer for him to extend. That sits there at the moment," Suns list boss Craig Cameron told AFL Trade Radio.
"I'd like to think that we sit down with him and his management group and progress into the off-season.
"Once he gets back from overseas and the pre-season starts, we'll progress the conversations from there with his management group."
Australian Associated Press
