JAMES Frawley is annoyed and it's not because of Melbourne's three-point loss against Port Adelaide.
Melbourne has a 4-13 win-loss record this season and it faces battles on and off the field, with former All Australian Frawley testing the market as a free agent.
The key-position utility has attracted the interest of Geelong, among others, and his playing future is the talk of the town in AFL circles. Hawthorn and Adelaide could also be considering making offers, according to reports.
"It gets pretty frustrating, being in the media all of the time," Frawley told Melbourne's website on Monday.
"Being a country boy, you don't really like that stuff. The free agency stuff, it's going to be in the public eye.
"I'm new to it, so I'm going to cop it for a couple of years and I'm trying to focus on footy and trying to play the best footy I can.
"I'm trying to help the Melbourne footy club win as many games as we can and get better as a group, and for the long haul."
Frawley was an All Australian defender in 2010. But the 25-year-old has been used in a forward role this season and has kicked 13 goals in 16 games.
The Cats have gone as far as to ask their leadership group what they think about going after the 193cm, 97kg Frawley.
Clubs have reportedly been told Frawley wants $800,000 a season on a seven-year deal.
Frawley says the 16th-placed Demons can take positives from their loss against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
"We came (back from) five goals down, and with five minutes to go we were in the lead," he said.
"It's probably the story of our year, really. We've had five or six close games during the year and we've probably lost six games by (narrow margins).
"You work your backside off all game and you get in front and then we end up stuffing up somehow. It's pretty frustrating."
Frawley took nine marks and had 19 disposals, booting one goal.
"But I've got to finish off the work, I had a bit of a shank in the pocket and kicked it out on the full," the 134-game veteran said.
