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THE BRISBANE Lions have no intention of trading James Aish despite the midfielder's declaration he wants to play for Collingwood.
After a bizarre and drawn-out process, the 19-year-old finally announced on Thursday – 33 days after the Lions' season ended – that he wanted to become a Magpie.
But the Lions are prepared to play hard ball on the 2013 No.7 NAB AFL Draft selection and force him back into the draft if he's determined to leave.
"We understand his position, but the club has no intention of trading James," said Brisbane Lions CEO Greg Swann.
"That's all we have to say on it right now."
Aish's manager, Liam Pickering, said he and his client would not have asked for a trade if they didn't think one would go through.
"We wouldn't have requested [the trade] if they didn't (want to entertain a trade)," Pickering said.
"The Pies were keen to get something to happen and we understand Brisbane's position as well, so there's a bit of work to do."
Aish has played 32 games in his first two seasons but was in and out of favour this year and was dropped to the NEAFL twice.
He also battled a mid-season jaw injury and then a finger complaint that ended his year after round 17.
The Lions' talent acquisition and retention manager Peter Schwab met with Aish's manager Liam Pickering on Thursday, and was told of the decision.
The club's football director Leigh Matthews said on Thursday said it was nothing personal, but the Lions would continue to baulk at trading young players.
"The concept of the draft is you commit yourself to be drafted without knowing where you're going to go – the concept of trading is that everyone wins," Matthews told 3AW.
"The Brisbane Lions have pretty much a policy decision that trading your young players … you can't win. Therefore, don't trade them.
"You can't make them play for you and an uncontracted player, after the trade period, if they want to can still put themselves in the normal draft.
"That's the decision James will have if he chooses that."
Carlton would be in the box seat to snare Aish with the first pick if he chose to walk out of the club and into the November draft.
However, it would mean the Lions wouldn't receive anything in return for their first-round draft pick.
Pickering told NAB AFL Trade Radio that Aish had every right to request a trade, especially as the young midfielder was out of contract.
"They've got the power and they've got to work out whether they want to lose James Aish for nothing or do a deal," he said.
"They held onto some really strong hope of keeping James, and quite rightly so too.
"People think this has been dragging on – it hasn't.
"He's been undecided about where he sees his future and he wants to come to Melbourne and play for Collingwood.
"It's taken him a long time to come to that decision and now the job is to get him there."
