Cat's opportunity cost: Three clubs circling

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KEY TRADE piece Darcy Lang will prioritise playing opportunity over where he lives, according to the Geelong midfielder's manager Scott Lucas.

Lang has the potential to be the circuit-breaker in Gary Ablett's wish to return from the Gold Coast to the Cats, but has also fielded genuine interest from Carlton and North Melbourne.

The 21-year-old from Colac has met with all three clubs, including a discussion with new Suns coach Stuart Dew.

Lang is yet to officially be included in negotiations for Ablett to come home, because he is still to make a call on his playing future.

Lucas, of Phoenix Management Group, said Lang would have to make a decision on which club he wanted to play for "sooner rather than later" with Thursday's deadline looming.

"In a perfect world, he'd continue to live in Geelong – he's really loved his time there at that club – but midfield opportunities haven't been as forthcoming as he would have liked," Lucas told NAB AFL Trade Radio.

"They are bringing in one of the best midfielders of all-time (Ablett), so if you think it's going to get any easier to push into the midfield, I think that's possibly not the case."

Another of Lucas' clients, out-of-contract Hawthorn speedster Billy Hartung, may have to wait until after the NAB AFL Trade Period to find out his AFL future.

The Hawks publicly put Hartung on the trade table, but have not found a suitor.

"It's a difficult time for any player that's out of contract at a club that goes through Trade Period," Lucas said of Hartung.

"We've had some good discussions with Hawthorn, (and) their priorities have been certainly fixed on the trade, as all clubs have.

"So, it becomes a discussion post the Trade Period tomorrow around list spots, the draft, how they see it, and we work from there. We're hopeful, though, that there's a spot there for him."

Lucas also said ruckman Tom Campbell looked set to fulfill his 2018 contract at the Western Bulldogs despite "some interest" elsewhere.

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