Whispers and rumours are swirling around the AFL landscape over the future of a few Western Bulldogs premiership players, but the club has come out and tried to hose down talk of any major moves.
The latest conversations have been around midfielder Mitch Wallis and versatile tall Jordan Roughead after recent comments from coach Luke Beveridge suggested their futures were not necessarily locked in at the Kennel.
But Bulldogs CEO Ameet Bains says the pair are required players and the club is in negotiations to extend their contracts.
MORE: Cornes 'everything has gone wrong for Crows' | Six players that mattered in round 13
“(Mitch Wallis) clearly has got a strong Bulldogs pedigree and is someone who is really popular within the football club,” Bains told SEN Breakfast on Tuesday morning.
“It has been challenging for him at different times having been in and out of the side.
“We are hopeful that he can continue his upward trajectory with his form and really cement himself both for the reminder of the season and beyond.”
Wallis has recently been connected to Essendon as the Bombers look for inside midfielders to replace Jobe Watson, with some suggestion former Bulldog Jake Stringer has been actively trying to talk Wallis into the move.
Roughead has also been in and out of the senior team and missed the Dogs’ round 13 loss to Port Adelaide, but could be recalled after a spate of injuries to players from the Power clash.
When asked about Roughead recently Beveridge said: “He’ll need to perform at his best pretty quickly to establish what his future is beyond this year.”
Bains was quick to try and smooth the waters, saying the coach had been taken out of context.
“I think Bevo’s starting point is we have been negotiating with his manager for a chunk of the season and want to retain him,” Bains said.
“It was more an expression of him being in and out of the side, and wanting him to find his best form in the context of helping the team, rather than his contract situation.
“It’s been a difficult period for him with his form.”
Both players are out of contract and will be entering restricted free agency at the end of the season.
At 27, Roughead will be hoping to extend his AFL career for as long as possible, but if he can’t turn his form around he may find himself on a one-year contract.
Wallis is still only 25 years old and has shown an upside that will make him attractive to a number of other clubs.