Seeds eager to stay put

ADELAIDE’S leading metreeater Paul Seedsman has dismissed speculation that he wants to return to Melbourne and declared that he hopes to sign a new long-term contract with the Crows.

Long-kicking wingman Seedsman, who leads Adelaide in average metres gained this year with 499, is the club’s highest-profile player left, falling out of contract on October 31.

He started contract negotiations in May but three months later has yet to put pen to paper, adding fuel to suggestions he wants to return to Melbourne and could be used as trade bait in packages the Crows could use to move up the draft order.

Adelaide, which is armed with three picks in the top 19, would love to put itself in a position to secure one of its two prime South Australian draft targets — Eagles key forward Jack Lukosius or West Adelaide small forward/midfielder Izak Rankine — who are ex- pected to go inside the top five.

After returning from two matches out with a strained hamstring in the nine-point win against North Melbourne on Sunday, Seedsman — recruited from Collingwood at the end of 2015 — said he was not homesick and wanted to remain a Crow.

“Absolutely, I want to stay here, I love it here,’’ he said. “My priority is to stay here. My girlfriend moved with me here [from Melbourne] and it’s been a great move for both of us.’’

Seedsman, who has enjoyed his best AFL season at age 26, indicated the hold up in a new deal is the length of contract.

It is understood he wants a four-year deal but has been offered only three by Adelaide.