Oct 2nd, 2017

Oct 2nd, 2017

Melbourne forward Jack Watts is set to address his playing future after being encouraged to find a new AFL home.

The 26-year-old will appear at a promotional event in Melbourne on Tuesday alongside his agent Paul Connors.

Watts has two years remaining on his contract but has fallen out of favour with the Demons and has been told to explore his options, with Sydney considered front-runners to secure his services.

The No.1 pick in the 2008 draft, Watts has struggled to live up to expectations throughout his career.

The versatile tall faced criticism for his training standards during the off-season and was dropped later in the year.

Demons coach Simon Goodwin on Monday suggested Watts could be better off in a new environment.

"This is obviously a situation where it's been going on for a long period of time," Goodwin told RSN radio.

"We're eight or nine years into a career and there's been a similar lot of expectation and a lot of pressure has been placed on both the Melbourne footy club and Jack over a long period of time.

"That cycle has continued. It hasn't changed, and I guess you've got to continue to assess where you are as a footy club and, I guess, where Jack's at as well."

Melbourne are favourites to secure a deal for off-contract Adelaide key defender Jake Lever when the trade period begins next Monday.

The Crows are a strong chance to make a fresh a play for Bryce Gibbs, despite the Carlton midfielder being contracted until the end of 2019.

Carlton football boss Andrew McKay on Monday said the Blues were yet to receive any indication that Gibbs would again seek a return to his home state.

"He's contracted for another couple of years, so we're hoping and expecting that he'll be with us for those couple of years," McKay told AFL Trade Radio.

©AAP2017