ADELAIDE is learning the price being asked to return to the first round of November's AFL draft call is too rich to stomach.

Three weeks after meeting Melbourne's football staff to prepare for trade talks, Adelaide is now learning the Demons' prized No. 2 draft pick - that would allow the Crows to draft South Australian under-18 champions James Aish and Matt Scharenberg - is up for auction.

Melbourne, under new coach Paul Roos, has declared it needs quality midfielders in exchange. But the Demons' choice at Adelaide is Victorian draftee Rory Sloane who on Friday- when Melbourne crafted its wishlist - was crowned the Crows club champion for the first time.

Adelaide list manager David Noble says he will return to talks with Melbourne in the lead-up to next month's trade period with a clear-cut refusal to have Sloane's name continually dragged up as potential trade bait.

"What is being asked for to get a first-round draft pick, we're reluctant to consider," said Noble.

Adelaide has been stripped of its first and second-round draft picks in the negotiated penalties set in December to end the Kurt Tippett saga at West Lakes.

Adelaide is determined to find a second-round draft pick. And it is still coy on whether out-of-contract ruckman-forward Shaun McKernan will be part of this trading.

"We're happy to keep him," said Noble on Tuesday.

But in question is whether the 23-year-old Victorian wants to stay with the Crows while he has the chance to consider new options in Melbourne, particularly at the Western Bulldogs.

Noble says he will continue talks with McKernan's manager, Justin Reid, this week.

"We appreciate Shaun's interest in being closer to family by returning to Melbourne - and his right to explore his options," said Noble.

"But we still see Shaun as a ruck option for us. He needs to improve his forward work, but we'd be happy to keep him."

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