An impending free-agent defender will reportedly consider overtures from rival clubs following a 'modest' revised contract offer from his current club.
Adelaide Crows defender Tom Doedee remains uncontracted beyond this year, with his current deal expiring at the conclusion of the 2023 season.
It hasn't been the campaign Doedee had hoped for, particularly in a contract year, as the 26-year-old ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during Adelaide's Round 12 fixture against the Gold Coast Suns; ending his 2023 season just 11 games in.
The tear was located in Doedee's right ACL, following a similarly devastating ACL rupture he sustained in his left leg during the 2019 season.
After Doedee suffered his long-term ailment in July, the Crows are understood to have lodged an initial contract offer to their leading defender. However, the defender and his management made the early decision to park contract talks until the end of the season.
Come August, though, Adelaide's latest offer is reportedly 'well short' of the initial olive branch, according to a report by the Herald Sun's Jon Ralph on Tuesday.
Ralph reports that while the current deal sitting at Doedee's fingertips is a long-term arrangement, the depreciated contract value has caused the backman to 'mull' his future at West Lakes, with opposition clubs set to come calling.
With just one home-and-away round remaining in the season and Doedee's ongoing unsigned status, fingers may start pointing to a likely departure for the Victorian.
The Brisbane Lions flagged their interest in Adelaide's intercepting defender in late June, though Ralph notes it's currently unknown whether or not an offer has been made to Doedee by the Queensland club.
With defending teammate Nick Murray also sidelined with an ACL setback, the Crows, too, are thought to be in the key-position backman market this year.
However, with uncovered gems Mitchell Hinge, Josh Worrell, and father-son draftee Max Michalanney all a consistent feature of Matthew Nicks' rearguard, Doedee may still be expendable in the minds of the Crows' hierarchical leaders.
Doedee is one of a host of key backmen likely to be sought after come this year's dedicated player movement period, with the likes of Geelong's Esava Ratugolea, North Melbourne's Ben McKay, and St Kilda's Dougal Howard all garnering varying levels of attention from rivals as the regular season winds down and October approaches.
