There's no bad blood between Jordan Lewis and Hawthorn, but the four-time AFL premiership star could still end up playing for Melbourne next year.
Lewis, 30, was believed to be taken aback by a post-season conversation with Alastair Clarkson in which the coach urged him to consider his playing future beyond next season - the last year of his current contract with the club.
However, after news of Sam Mitchell's shock trade to West Coast emerged last week, the club moved to clarify that Lewis was a contracted and required player.
But his manager, Liam Pickering, had already made an approach to the Demons by then.
"There's no issues ... he's not filthy, he's not angry," Pickering told SEN on Saturday.
"(He) is a professional, he's the vice-captain of the club, finished second in the best-and-fairest last week, whatever happens will happen.
"He's a Hawthorn player at the moment, so there's a good chance that he'll be a Hawthorn player because he's contracted to Hawthorn.
"I need to keep working through it with Jordan and we'll see where it goes.
"There's no timeline."
Pickering will continue discussions with the Demons and the Hawks as Lewis contemplates his future.
In other trade news, Western Bulldogs premiership player Joel Hamling has requested a trade to Fremantle.
The 23-year-old's stocks rose during the Dogs' stirring finals run, which culminated in the grand final win over Sydney in which he largely curbed the influence of Swans superstar Lance Franklin.
"It's great news ... I think Joel's been considering coming back throughout the year and then obviously with the way the Bulldogs went clouded the decision a bit more," Dockers list manager Brad Lloyd told 6PR radio on Saturday.
"I presume he's agonised over the decision over recent weeks, but with the grand final celebrations it's been more difficult to come to a decision.
"But he's indicated to us he'd like to get back to Western Australia and play for Fremantle, which is fantastic news."
Geelong forward Shane Kersten is also expected to find his way to the Dockers as he seeks greater playing opportunities.
In other AFL trade news on Saturday:
* Hayden Ballantyne appears destined to remain at Fremantle, with the club receiving little interest from rivals for his services.
* Dockers ruckman Zac Clarke is on the verge of signing a new deal with the club.
* West Coast have spoken to Bulldogs free agent ruckman Will Minson as they look for cover for Nic Naitanui.
* Geelong premiership star Jimmy Bartel is still weighing up whether to play on next season or retire.
* The Eagles will wait until late in the trade and free agency periods before deciding if they will offer discarded Kangaroos veteran Drew Petrie a contract.
