UNAPOLOGETIC Lions coach Chris Fagan has shrugged off this week’s rebuke from Crows counterpart Don Pyke with the blunt observation that clubs coped better with potential player transfers when they were the chasers and not the victims.

He was referring to Adelaide’s double standards over Brisbane’s interest in Charlie Cameron and their own very public courtship of Carlton’s Bryce Gibbs last year.

TRADES: LIONS DECLARE INTEREST IN CROW CAMERON

Adelaide went hard after in-contract Gibbs during last year’s trade period and Crows players have spoken openly about how much they’d like to see the South Australian return home to play alongside them.

Brisbane have also received encouragement from rivals clubs who have been on the end of poaching raids from the Crows.

Fagan delivered the dig to Pyke and the Crows when asked how he felt the football industry handled potential player movements.

media_camera Brisbane is interested in Adelaide’s Charlie Cameron. Picture: Getty

“I think we handle it well when we are the chasers, we don’t handle it so well when we are the victims,’’ he said.

“But we choose to be the chasers often, all clubs do.’’

Brisbane are regular targets of interstate raids — just this year they had to endure months of speculation over the future of Josh Schache.

The Lions did not instigate the discussion on Mt Isa-born Cameron, but became interested when news broke he wanted to return to the Sunshine State to be closer to family.

The Lions see the fact they are being linked to interstate players as evidence the perception of their club from across the competition is changing.

Fagan has warned of a new era of aggressive recruiting that will take place over the next two years.

media_camera Crows coach Don Pyke isn’t happy with Brisbane. media_camera Brisbane coach Chris Fagan won’t be apologising to Adelaide.

“Hopefully the reputation of our footy club has changed,’’ he said.

“The AFL is a very competitive business and every club is trying to improve their list and most clubs will go as hard as they can to do that and that is what we will do.’’

Pyke lashed-out at Fagan over his comments regarding Cameron in a radio interview.

A Crows official also rang football manager and former Adelaide employee David Noble to complain.

But Fagan says there was no need to apologise for the comments that upset Pyke and suggested Adelaide should take a closer listen to exactly what he said.

“I was asked a question on radio to which I gave a hypothetical answer,’’ he said.

“If the player was interested in returning home then of course we would talk to him.

“So I think people would be better off just to have a close listen to the answer I gave to that question rather than just shooting from the hip because it was not my intention to upset the Adelaide Crows footy club.’’