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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", coach Luke Beveridge says.
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 him.
"(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 said the club was keen to retain the 25-year-old.
"No, not at all, so it's another made up element of an article that's been published," Beveridge said.
"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 negations with his management in reaching an agreement on a new contract.
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", coach Luke Beveridge says.
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 him.
"(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 said the club was keen to retain the 25-year-old.
"No, not at all, so it's another made up element of an article that's been published," Beveridge said.
"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 negations with his management in reaching an agreement on a new contract.
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