Carlton have poured cold water on speculation linking star West Australian Patrick Cripps with a return to his home state.
Former Port Adelaide premiership player Kane Cornes told Adelaide's radio fiveAA on Wednesday he believed Cripps could be part of a trade involving Fremantle Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe at the end of the season.
But on Thursday, Carlton chief executive Steven Trigg refuted the trade rumour - more than eight months before the start of the 2017 AFL trade period.
"To be honest, it's just a furphy," Trigg told SEN radio.
"I know it is an easy thing to say but he is genuinely welded to Carlton, life in Melbourne, and is enjoying it.
"I'm not sure where Kane has dragged that from. We are aiming to keep Patrick, don't worry."
Cripps, who is seen as a future club captain and is contracted until the end of the 2019 season, laughed off the rumour.
"I actually found it pretty funny when I heard about it," Cripps told the club's website.
"But I can tell you it's not true.
"I signed a contract extension last year to show that I'm really happy at the Blues ... I know we're heading in the right direction."
The 21-year-old has been slowed by a back injury this pre-season, but he remains quietly confident he will be ready for the season-opener against Richmond.
Carlton played hard ball during last year's trade period, refusing star onballer Bryce Gibbs' request to be traded back to South Australia to be closer to his family.
Gibbs is also contracted until the end of 2019 and Trigg is confident the 27-year-old won't hand in another trade request at the end of the season.
"The reality is that he honestly hasn't missed a beat ... he's been welcomed back and embraced," Trigg said.
"Internally, it just hasn't been spoken about pretty much since the day he came in.
"He's addressed the fact that (his trade request) wasn't about Carlton - it wasn't about Melbourne. It was about some other issues and we're back on with the job.
"He's in as a good a nick as he's ever been, measurably."
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