HAWTHORN has no plans to offload maligned forward Ty Vickery to a third club despite his underwhelming first year at the Hawks, coach Alastair Clarkson says.
The 27-year-old managed just six games and kicked two goals, spending most of his maiden season with VFL affiliate Box Hill.
He joined Hawthorn at the end of last season as a restricted free agent on a two-year deal reportedly worth around $1 million after Richmond chose not to match the Hawks' offer.
Vickery made headlines during a tumultuous July in which he was arrested, and later released without charge, as part of an extortion investigation allegedly relating to his restaurant.
Clarkson gave every indication Vickery remained in the Hawks' plans for 2018, citing the key forward's off-field dramas as a reason for his form slump.
"It hasn't panned out for either us or him anywhere near as much as we'd like, but he's still contracted," Clarkson told Channel Nine.
"Whilst the guy is contracted at our footy club, and we feel like he's got something he can contribute, then he'll remain a Hawk.
"I don't think it does him any good or us (to seek a trade). There's a whole heap of reasons (for his form), including what implicated his life in terms of his restaurant … that had him not in the best space to be able to play his best football.
"To make a judgement on one bloke in 12 months and then tip him out, if he wasn't playing for Hawthorn it would be on the basis that he feels he's got nothing he can contribute to help take us forward, but that would be on the basis of Ty, not the Hawthorn footy club."
Vickery was also suspended on separate occasions late in the VFL season, further tarnishing his season.
The ex-Tiger has played a total of 125 games since making his debut in 2009 and has kicked 160 career goals.
Meanwhile, Clarkson ruled out Western Bulldogs forward Jake Stringer as a potential trade target given the Hawks' eventful 2016 off-season.
The Hawks last year traded their 2017 first-round draft pick to St Kilda (currently selection No.7) in a deal that helped the club secure midfielder Jaeger O'Meara from Gold Coast.
They also forwarded this year's second-round pick to the Suns (currently No.24).
At this stage, the Hawks will enter this year's NAB AFL Draft at Greater Western Sydney's second-round pick (currently No.32).
"We were pretty active last year … so on the back of that and the implications that's had for this year's draft, it's probably more difficult for us to be really active players," Clarkson said.
"In terms of a guy like Stringer, it probably excludes us from being a player.
"We like him as a footballer … but in terms of how we could possibly get that done and meet the needs of the Western Bulldogs, we're fairly constrained in that regard."
Despite being contracted for 2018, the premiership Bulldog is on the trade table and has received interest from several Victorian teams, including Geelong, Essendon and St Kilda.
Stringer has netted 89 games in his five seasons at the Bulldogs after being recruited with pick No.5 in the 2012 NAB AFL Draft.
