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MELBOURNE's attempt to lure Luke Dahlhaus away from the Whitten Oval has been rebuffed, after the creative forward's name was raised in trade discussions between the clubs.
AFL.com.au understands the Western Bulldogs want to move from pick No. 5 to Melbourne's selection No. 2 in the draft, which would allow the club to snare one of this year's two highly-touted junior tall forward prospects, Peter Wright or Patrick McCartin.
It is understood Dahlhaus was thrown up by the Demons in such a deal, but the Bulldogs were quick to deny Melbourne's requests.
Adding to the Bulldogs' urgency in moving up the draft order, is the fact the club's first pick could slip to No. 6 if the Demons receive a first-round compensation pick for losing unrestricted free agent James Frawley.
But Bulldogs chief executive Simon Garlick was adamant Dahlhaus, who is contracted until the end of 2015, is untradeable.
"We would absolutely not put Luke up and we've got no interest in putting Luke up for trade given the importance he has at our place, and not just from an on-field sense, but an off-field sense too," Garlick told SEN Radio on Thursday.
It is also believed Dahlhaus would not entertain a move to Melbourne.
But Garlick did confirm the Bulldogs' desire to move up in the draft order.
"It's a real priority for us and there's so many conversations and permutations to come out of it," Garlick said.
"We're going to be pretty pro-active and aggressive to ensure this trade period, in particular, provides us with our specific needs or to slide us up the draft."
Wright, hailing from the Calder Cannons in the TAC Cup, and McCartin (Geelong Falcons) are considered the best key position forwards in this year's draft.
Dahlhaus has played 71 games in four seasons with the Bulldogs, putting together his most consistent season to date in 2014.
The 22-year-old averaged a career-high 21.6 disposals a game this year and kicked 17 goals, spending more time up the ground as he looked to add another dimension to his game.
The Demons lacked a creative small forward in their side this season, with youngster Jay Kennedy-Harris providing that role in bursts.
