Adelaide defender Marke Keane is said to be open to a return to Victoria despite being contracted at West Lakes until the end of next year, with his old club Collingwood reportedly interested in the Irishman.
Keane joined the Magpies as a category B rookie in 2018 as a highly-rated Gaelic footballer, with the 24-year-old making his debut in 2020 against Fremantle.
The defender played four more games in black and white the following year before deciding to return to Ireland ahead of the 2022 season. This was a mutual decision between Keane and the club.
After some time away from the game, Keane emerged back on the radar of AFL clubs, with Adelaide making a move for the 194cm backman last year via the Supplemental Selection Period.
Keane would make his club debut in style, coming into the Crows' side for last year's 47-point Showdown win over Port Adelaide in July, with Keane among Adelaide's best performers on the night.
Having since held a key role under Matthew Nicks, Keane has seen his value soar over the past 18 months, while he earned a two-year extension shortly after his Crows debut against the Power.
Despite being contracted for next year, Keane is said to be "open to a return to Melbourne", according toย 7 Newsย reporter Theo Doropoulos, and Collingwood have been tied to the defender.
The Magpies' interest comes after losing premiership defender Nathan Murphy to retirement following a series of concussions across his short career, with Keane potentially a fitting replacement.
"There's a reunion brewing for the Pies. It's understood Collingwood is circling now-Crow Marke Keane, who's open to a return to Melbourne," Doropoulos reported on Tuesday.
"He's contracted to Adelaide until the end of 2025, but he looms as the natural long-term replacement for the retired Nathan Murphy."
Keane remains integral to Adelaide's defensive system, having filled a void left by the departed Tom Doedee and the injured Nick Murray.
Murray is nearing a return from an ACL injury sustained last year, while fellow defender Josh Worrell is currently sidelined with a broken arm.
The Crows are yet to have all of Keane, Murray, Worrell and Jordon Butts available for selection at the same time, which would offer some selection dilemmas for Nicks.
Collingwood is likely to be keen on bolstering its rearguard this year, given the loss of Murphy, who played 57 games across four seasons with the club.
