Gardiner to Adelaide ?
Adelaide will examine all possibilities in a bid to find a replacement for injured ruckman Rhett Biglands including making a play for West Coast ruckman Michael Gardiner or Hawthorn's Peter Everitt.
Gardiner is on the Crows' radar after it was confirmed that Biglands would join forward Trent Hentschel on the sidelines with a knee injury, while Everitt is available after severing ties with the Hawks.
Crows football operations manager John Reid denied that Adelaide coach Neil Craig was in Melbourne yesterday talking to Gardiner, who is looking for a new home after several off-field indiscretions at the Eagles.
With Biglands out, veteran Matthew Clarke, who enjoyed a strong season supporting Biglands, might be talked into playing for another year.
More discussions with him will take place in the next two days.
Everitt, whom the Hawks say they will trade, will also be considered by Adelaide but only if he is willing to accept a short-term contract, with Reid ruling out a trade if the Hawthorn veteran wants a three-year deal.
Adelaide has a plethora of ruckmen waiting in the wings- with Ben Hudson, Ivan Maric, John Meesen and Jonathon Griffin - but none is a certainty to take over the No.1 ruck mantle next season if Clarke decides to hang up the boots.