Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks says that he'd be shocked if key defender Mark Keane actually departed the club for his former side Collingwood at the end of 2024.
Keane previously spent three years at the Pies, playing five games, but ultimately decided to quit and return to Ireland during the COVID-19-impacted seasons.
But once the travel restrictions lifted, and the prospect of returning to AFL football was reinvigorated, the Crows made sure of luring the 25-year-old to West Lakes.
However, trade speculation began over Keane's future in South Australia, with Collingwood desperately attempting to fill the void left by Nathan Murphy due to his concussion problems.
He denied his former club's advances, penning a three-year extension to remain at the Crows.
"'Keaney' and I were in constant correspondence when he went back to Ireland, we were chatting right through it," Nicks told reporters on Wednesday.
"I would have been shocked if he'd gone back (to Collingwood), put it that way.
Nicks detailed how the process went with retaining Keane despite interest from rival clubs, even though he'd only known him for 12 months.
The Adelaide coach revealed how they gave the Irishman space to return to his home, and even play local sport Hurling.
"It was an early part of us getting to know each other and building a relationship," Nicks said.
"You just never know with that sort of stuff, but I was confident he was enjoying Adelaide, he was enjoying the group here and the culture that we've built – and I think that's showing through now.
"To be honest, we were looking into list management and chatting to him over the phone – there's no issues there.
"We try to balance exactly what it is that we were happy for him to go into and risk a bit of injury.
"But we know there's a balance between life and footy, and I think he did that really well."
Keane was the match-saver in last week's Showdown, taking a courageous mark going against the traffic with the game reaching a knife's edge.
Ironically, he will reunite with his former club at the MCG in a mouth-watering contest on Saturday, as the Pies host the Crows.
Adelaide will consider tagging Nick Daicos from the get-go, saying they are "extremely tempted".
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