DECISIONS on a number of key players ahead of Monday's opening to the NAB AFL Trade Period should become clearer in the next 48 hours.

Wantaway players are often reluctant to announce their intentions before first getting their existing club's best and fairest count out of the way.

Geelong's Tim Kelly followed that trade template to the letter this week, giving little away before the Cats' best fairest count on Thursday night, only to request a move to West Coast early the following morning.

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Could we see similarly speedy announcements from some of this year's biggest free agency and trade targets after Greater Western Sydney's and West Coast's best and fairest functions on Friday night? 

Giants stars Dylan Shiel (Hawthorn, Carlton, Essendon and St Kilda) and Rory Lobb (Fremantle and West Coast) have been given permission to speak to clubs in their home states, but neither has requested a trade as yet.

West Coast free agent Scott Lycett is widely expected to join Port Adelaide on a five-year deal – an industry belief that only strengthened when the ruckman toured the Power's Alberton facilities on Thursday – but the South Australian has also yet to confirm his plans.

Then there is this year's biggest mystery man, Eagles star Andrew Gaff. As he's grappled with re-signing or crossing to North Melbourne, the dual All Australian midfielder has been tighter-lipped than a Tibetan monk on a vow of silence.

However, it's understood Gaff could finally make an announcement as early as Saturday.

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Shiel, Lobb and Lycett should also come clean on their futures soon after the formalities of Friday night's best and fairest counts are completed.

Chad Wingard heads to Port Adelaide's John Cahill Medal on Friday night with his future also clouded, understood to be still weighing up where he wants to play long-term.

Meanwhile, the Pies have four key players needing to tick off extensions which could become clearer around its Friday evening count. Tom Langdon's delayed offer from the Pies has opened the doors elsewhere, while Darcy Moore is poised to stay at the Holden Centre. Levi Greenwood is in talks for a fresh deal, as mature-age rookie Brody Mihocek closes in on a two-year extension.

Suns all but certain to accept Lynch compo pick

The Suns have until about 1.30pm Monday (AEST) to decide whether to match Richmond's offer for Tom Lynch.    

Gold Coast has been tightlipped about its next move, saying only that it will weigh up its options between now and the deadline. 

Are the Suns simply posturing by not jumping at the No.3 draft pick that will come their way if Lynch joins the Tigers as a restricted free agent?

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Possibly, but it's understood any decision they make will have to be ticked off by their board, a process that takes time.

Nonetheless, it's hard to see what they would achieve by matching the Tigers' offer.

Surely, the Suns have long since abandoned any hope of convincing Lynch to stay, while they won't get a better deal if they try to force Richmond to trade for the spearhead.

Their only other motive for matching Richmond's offer would be to force their former co-captain into the NAB AFL Draft. It's hard to see the Suns being that ruthless, especially when doing so would mean they forfeit their right to any compensation.

So look for the Suns to accept the compensation pick, take picks No.2 and No.3 to this year's draft and then bank on their ability to sell the youngsters they select on the club's long-term vision. 

What contracts matter at the Dockers?

Fremantle chief executive Steve Rosich insists the Dockers' "first, second and third" preference is to retain midfielder Lachie Neale, despite the star midfielder's desire to move to Brisbane on a five-year deal.

Rosich joined NAB AFL Trade Radio on Friday, revealing the Dockers will demand more than Brisbane's first-round pick (currently No.4) for the contracted star.

Heading to Saturday night's best and fairest as the heavy favourite to collect his Doig Medal, Neale's intentions could be confirmed as early as Sunday.

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Rosich's strong words fly in the face of the Dockers' attempts to bring contracted West Australians Rory Lobb and Jesse Hogan home.

With pick No.5 currently in their back pocket, the Dockers may need Brisbane's pick No.4 to land both Lobb and Hogan, having met both in the past fortnight.

In other news:

- Fremantle lodged the first offer of the NAB AFL Free Agency Period, offering Richmond midfielder Reece Conca a three-year deal. As an unrestricted free agent, Conca can join the Dockers immediately, while the Tigers will receive a second-round compensation pick, currently No.38 overall. Although, they are expected to lose that pick when they complete the signing of Tom Lynch.

- Geelong claimed unrestricted free agent Luke Dahlhaus from the Western Bulldogs on a four-year deal worth about $2 million. The Bulldogs will receive a second-round compensation pick, currently No.25 overall.

- Essendon has confirmed its interest in contracted Gold Coast midfielder Jack Martin but concedes he is unlikely to depart the Suns. The Bombers are also in the mix for Suns captain Steven May as he ponders a move to Victoria or remaining at Gold Coast.

- St Kilda has ruled out using its first-round pick (currently selection three) for Dylan Shiel. 

- Geelong forward Daniel Menzel will need to wait until after the NAB AFL Trade Period to learn whether there will be an offer forthcoming from the Cats.

- Gold Coast appears set to lock in its second state league player under the club's AFL Commission assistance package, with West Adelaide swingman Chris Burgess understood to be close to committing to the Suns. AFL.com.au reported on Wednesday Gold Coast was set to secure Werribee forward Josh Corbett as one of its three concession selections.

- Hawks great Sam Mitchell remains on track to return to Waverley and join the coaching staff of his long-time mentor Alastair Clarkson. Mitchell’s move from West Coast has been held up as the parties negotiate a release from the final year of his three-season contract with the Eagles, but the four-time premiership Hawk will be working alongside Clarkson in 2019.