ADELAIDE has begun negotiations to ensure speedy wingman David Mackay plays for the Crows next season.
Mackay signed a three-year contract at the end of season 2012, but it contained a trigger clause that had to be met for him to play on at the Crows in 2015.
AFL.com.au understands he is almost certain to satisfy the terms of that clause but, unlike former Saint Nick Dal Santo last year, Mackay could still enter into a free agency deal with a rival club without the Crows' consent.
If he did, the Crows would be able keep the restricted free agent by matching a rival offer.
But Adelaide's list manager David Noble hoped the club wouldn't need to, telling AFL.com.au the club had made contact with Mackay's manager Adrian Battiston to retain the 25-year-old's services next year.
"We've certainly started the process of communications with his management group … we're just at that point when we're starting to catch up," Noble said.
"I don't think either party has any real issue about him continuing to go on [at Adelaide], from our side we hope.
"There's a clause in his contract and we'd like to think that he's going to stay."
Noble said Adelaide's desire for Mackay to remain at West Lakes had "never waivered", despite reports last season linking him to the Brisbane Lions when Jared Polec was looking to return to South Australia.
He denied Mackay had been put on the trade table, insisting such speculation was based simply on interest from the Lions.
On Monday morning Mackay told reporters he never wanted anything to do with a deal that could have seen him head north partly in exchange for Polec.
He said he was enjoying his football with the Crows.
"I love playing footy here and [leaving] was never something that crossed my mind," Mackay said.
"[I'm] very happy playing here."
Mackay would have to be happy with his current form.
He's averaging 21 possessions a game in 2014, up from 17 last year and in 2012.
Noble said the club was thrilled with Mackay's output, particularly given the long-term injury to versatile defender Ricky Henderson.
"He's recaptured a little bit of the consistency that probably he's looking for and we know that he can deliver as an experienced campaigner," Noble said.
"With Henderson being injured, we've needed more run and more carry and more speed in our game … and I think credit to David, he's been able to deliver more of that element.
"Coupled with the (Brodie) Smith and the (Matthew) Jaensch and himself coming out of the backend of that midfield area, he's been terrific."
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