A REPORT that Western Bulldogs premiership stars Luke Dahlhaus, Tom Liberatore and Clay Smith were put up for trade at the end of last year is "a lie", says coach Luke Beveridge.
Speculation was widespread at the end of the Dogs' underwhelming flag defence that the trio could have joined Jake Stringer in departing Whitten Oval after they failed to match their form of the previous year.
A disappointed Beveridge told AFL.com.au on Tuesday that Dahlhaus, Liberatore and Smith were definitely not put on the trade table.
Dahlhaus and Liberatore are both free agents at season's end, while Smith is on a one-year deal after three knee reconstructions in the past few years.
"Neither Luke, Libba or Clay were ever mentioned by our club in trade discussions, and I don't even think clubs asked (then list manager) Jason McCartney whether or not they were available," Beveridge said.
"(Clubs) may have (asked), but because they weren't going to be traded, Jason wouldn't have told me.
"(The story) is a total fabrication, something that has been made up, a lie, which is really concerning and disappointing.
"They are very much-loved players at our club and they weren't on the trade table."
Beveridge also denied the club was disappointed with Dahlhaus' training standards last season and found it "extremely strange" one of the Dogs' most diligent and hardest workers had his commitment questioned.
While he concedes Dahlhaus has elements of his game he needs to work on, the premiership coach believes the 25-year-old will only get better and the club is keen to retain him.
A lack of kicking polish has been a knock on the former rookie right back to his days with the Geelong Falcons in the TAC Cup.
"No, not at all (has his commitment been questioned), so it's another made up element of an article that's been published," Beveridge said.
"He's got some areas of his game he's trying to improve and we're working with him on, but he's still a young man.
"He was one of most influential players during the 2016 finals series, and while he didn't have his best year last year, but there was many in the same boat. We look at our players with great optimism.
"This is a big year for everyone in regard to growth, and hopefully Luke can improve some of those areas in his game that he knows will make him a better player.
"I'm sure clubs are attracted to Luke and his game is appealing, and it's something we've got to deal with and manage in our negotiations with his management in reaching an agreement on a new contract."
Dahlhaus has played 137 games since being selected with pick No.22 in the 2011 NAB AFL Rookie Draft.
The Leopold product is held in such high regard at Whitten Oval that he was given the famous No.6 jumper in 2012 made famous by club greats Charlie Sutton and Brad Johnson.
