Another Saints veteran could be on his way to Windy Hill, a Bombers forward could join the Dockers, a Hawk premiership player wants to move west, while the Lions hope to retain a talented youngster.
Montagna to become a Bomber?
Fox Sports reports that St Kilda veteran Leigh Montagna will be reunited with former teammate Brendon Goddard at Essendon this season.
Montagna has played 212 games for the Saints and finished third in the club's best and fairest this season.
Such a development would continue a ruthless list rebuild by the Saints, who on Saturday warned fans to prepare for short-term pain as the club positions itself towards its next premiership tilt.
The Saints have already shocked the football world by trading ruckman Ben McEvoy to Hawthorn and appear likely to lose experienced midfielder Nick Dal Santo to North Melbourne.
With Essendon banned from the first two rounds of the NAB AFL Draft, any move for Montagna would likely involve a Bombers player moving to St Kilda or a complex multi-club trade.
St Kilda has previously expressed interest in Dons midfielder David Myers.
Dockers close in on Gumbleton
Fremantle's search for another key forward option is believed to have narrowed, with Geelong premiership player James Podsiadly dropping out of contention.
News Limited reports that Podsiadly, who is on the radar of both Fremantle and Adelaide, does not want to relocate interstate. The 32-year-old's best chance of continuing his AFL career could be at Carlton.
The Dockers' quest to find a marking target to assist veteran Matthew Pavlich and the undersized Chris Mayne now appears to focus on Essendon's opportunity-starved forward Scott Gumbleton.
Freo has subjected the injury-prone 25-year-old to medical tests and will further examine his fitness before making a decision on whether to court him.
Hawk Ellis looking west
Hawthorn's 2008 premiership player Xavier Ellis could be headed to Western Australia, with News Limited reporting that Fremantle and West Coast are locked in a battle for the 25-year-old's services.
Both clubs have tested Ellis in recent days and are confident his battle-weary body can withstand the rigours of AFL football.
Ellis played just two games for the premier this season – in rounds 13 and 14 – and is seeking more opportunities in the west.
News Limited believes he is more likely to join the Eagles.
Meanwhile, West Coast veteran Daniel Kerr is believed to be close to announcing his retirement.
Lions see light with Longer
The Brisbane Lions have resigned themselves to losing young quartet Sam Docherty, Jared Polec, Elliot Yeo and Patrick Karnezis, but harbour increasing hopes of retaining promising ruckman Billy Longer, as first reported on AFL.com.au last Thursday.
Longer had been keen to be traded to Hawthorn before the reigning premier secured McEvoy.
The Hawks still want the younger Longer but acknowledge it is now a tougher sell given the young Lion was seeking more senior opportunities.
Lions national talent manager Rob Kerr told Fairfax Media the McEvoy deal had forced Longer to reassess his options, one of which was to remain with the Lions.
"We would certainly welcome him back, which we've expressed to him," Kerr said.
"I've spoken to his manager, (Lions football manager) Dean Warren has spoken to Billy and so have some of our players. I'm more confident that he'll stay than I was earlier in the week, but the trade period goes for three weeks and a lot can happen."
Carlton is offering pick 29 for Docherty but the Lions want the Blues' pick 28, which they received from Richmond for Shaun Hampson.
Yeo wants to join West Coast but Kerr said Fremantle was ahead in negotiations given they were prepared to hand over their pick 33 while the Eagles have nominated pick 40.
Kerr said Port Adelaide and Adelaide were a "dead heat" to secure Polec.
