RICHMOND is ramping up its interest in St Kilda fan favourite and former AFLW leading goalkicker Caitlin Greiser, as the Tigers target key forward depth ahead of the March 10 sign and trade period.

But it's understood Richmond is also bracing to lose Maddy Brancatisano to Gold Coast over the next month, despite its efforts to retain the midfielder at Punt Road on an extended contract.

Greiser, who is affectionately nicknamed 'G-Train' at the Saints after former men's club great Fraser Gehrig, booted 10 goals from six games in her maiden AFLW campaign back in 2020 to claim the League's leading goalkicker award.

It added to her tally of 29 goals from 34 career games in the competition, which has sparked Richmond's interest in the talented 24-year-old as the club seeks to improve upon last season's top-four finish.

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Greiser shows all her skills with superb soccer goal

Caitlin Greiser gets the first major of the match with a brilliant finish off the ground

Greiser is still contracted at St Kilda ahead of this year's 2023 season, with the Saints intent on either retaining her at RSEA Park or securing suitable compensation to agree to her departure.

As the Tigers are not one of last year's four new expansion clubs, which have received AFLW concessions in the upcoming priority signing period (PSP), they will have to negotiate a trade with the Saints to complete a deal for Greiser.

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Richmond, though, is expected to lose Brancatisano with the promising 22-year-old midfielder hoping to move to Gold Coast next month. The Tigers had been aiming to retain the player, and offered her a new contract, but it was rejected.

Maddy Brancatisano warms up ahead of the R10 clash between Richmond and North Melbourne at Arden Street Oval on October 30, 2022. Picture: AFL Photos

Greiser's expected defection to Richmond is set to kickstart a busy month of sign and trade period action for St Kilda, who is closing on a deal for Brisbane spearhead and last season's leading AFLW goalkicker Jesse Wardlaw.

St Kilda is also chasing Serene Watson from Gold Coast, but as previously revealed by womens.afl the club is expected to lose star midfielder Tarni White to Collingwood and Clara Fitzpatrick to the Suns.

Leah Cutting has also attracted interest from Adelaide and is poised to move to South Australia for work-related reasons, while the club's leading goalkicker last season in Kate Shierlaw is tipped to head to North Melbourne.

Kate Shierlaw celebrates a goal during the R9 clash between St Kilda and Port Adelaide at RSEA Park on October 23, 2022. Picture: Getty Images/AFL Photos

Elsewhere, Port Adelaide is hoping to complete a move for the League's 2022 leading goalkicker in Ash Woodland from crosstown rivals Adelaide as one of its three potential PSP recruits.

Fellow Adelaide key-position player Montana McKinnon also has interest from Port Adelaide, Essendon and Greater Western Sydney, but the Crows are tipped to land ruck Jess Allan from the Giants.