Nicks bemused at Crows links with pack of trade targets

Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks is slightly bemused at his club being linked with a batch of high-profile trade targets.

Speculation is linking the Crows to pitching cashed-up offers to Brisbane's Hugh McCluggage, Sydney's Will Hayward, the Giants' Harry Perryman, Melbourne's Harrison Petty and West Coast's Elliot Yeo.

But Nicks says it's just that: speculation.

"We're very active when it comes to improving our list, acquiring players, we've shown that bringing (captain Jordan Dawson) 'Daws' into the club and (Izak) Rankine," Nicks told reporters on Thursday.

"We're no busier this year than we have been in previous years.

"It has been talked about a lot. We seem to be linked with a lot of players around, we seem to be in every deal at the moment - that's OK.

"But we don't talk about that space, which makes it hard then when maybe we're not actually involved to come out and say we're not.

"We just don't talk about players ... that are playing at other footy clubs.

"But what I can say to you is we are active like every other club in the competition ... we'll be as active as we've ever been."

On the flipside, rumours abound that Collingwood wants to lure Adelaide's Irish-born backman Mark Keane back to Melbourne.

Keane played five games for the Magpies in 2020/21 before remaining in Ireland and playing Gaelic football during the 2022 AFL season.

The 24-year-old rejoined the AFL last year with Adelaide and is in the midst of a breakout season, with his string of eye-catching performances reportedly grabbing Collingwood's attention.

"He is improving out of sight, isn't he," Nicks said of Keane, whose contract with the Crows expires at the end of next year.

"He's playing a really high level of footy for someone who hasn't played a lot of football.

"He has a background of playing at a high level of sport and in a game very similar to ours, so he has been able to transfer those skills across.

"I'm really confident that Keaney is loving his footy at this point in time and he's enjoying being part of the footy club.

"And he will be rewarded for his performances in time ... he has been a real positive for us."

The Crows host West Coast on Sunday, with Nicks nominating Harry Schoenberg and Billy Dowling, who is yet to debut in AFL ranks, as potential replacements for Rankine, who is expected to miss three games because of a hamstring injury.

Forward-ruck Elliott Himmelberg (fractured cheekbone) is also sidelined.