RICKY Henderson has emerged as a potential trade option for the Crows as they attempt to gain earlier picks in this year's NAB AFL Draft.
AFL.com.au understands the 25-year-old would be prepared to return home to Victoria, however he remains contracted to the Crows until the end of 2015.
Henderson hails from the gold-mining town of Trentham, about an hour's drive north-west of Melbourne.
The Crows are barred from participating in the first and second rounds of the draft due to penalties relating to the Kurt Tippett salary cap scandal.
But the club has made no secret of its eagerness to trade into the first and second rounds of this year's Draft.
When contacted by AFL.com.au, the Crows declined to comment.
But Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson earlier confirmed the club would be active players in this year's trade period.
"Normally you wait for the best deal available and that's typically the case with the trade period," Sanderson told Adelaide's website.
"We've got to get back up higher in the draft, so we'll do our very best to adjust our squad to present us with the best chances of getting better.
"We'll look for every avenue to make our squad better and that's going to be potentially trading players in and out."
Henderson played 14 games for the Crows in 2013, developing his craft as a rebounding defender.
With 56 career games to his name, Henderson's athletic traits – in particular his elite vertical leap – would appeal to prospective clubs.
He averaged 19.3 disposals and six marks a game this season – including a career-high 32 touches against Geelong in round 17.
A right knee injury – which he had surgery on in August – cut his season short after round 20.
A talented junior basketballer, Henderson was selected by the Crows with pick No.10 in the 2009 Rookie Draft before being elevated to the club's senior list the following year.
The Crows have shown their ability to retain players, re-signing Jason Porplyzia and Scott Thompson in the past two days.
