ALTHOUGH Gold Coast co-captain Tom Lynch stands out as the headline act on this year's free agency list, Adelaide star Rory Sloane sits on the rung just below him, perhaps alongside West Coast key defender Jeremy McGovern.

However, where Lynch would be on the wish list of every Victorian club, the market for Sloane in his home state will contain fewer buyers.

Sloane's age – rather than his talent – is the key factor here.

Having turned 28 last month, the Crows' vice-captain is more than two-and-a-half years older than Lynch. Any club targeting him won't see him play in its colours until he is 29.

That should rule out rebuilding teams such as North Melbourne and Carlton, whose premiership windows are unlikely to open while Sloane is still at, or near, his best.

Blues list manager Stephen Silvagni has been prepared to recruit players in their late 20s during the club's rebuild, bringing in former Docker Alex Silvagni (now 30) and ex-Power ruckman Matthew Lobbe.

But both were bargain-based pick-ups and industry sources said it would be out of character for Silvagni to spend big bucks to snare Sloane, who is expected to command up to $1 million a season, at his advanced age.

Besides, if Sloane decides to leave a strong Adelaide team, he's not about to join a club that's unlikely to seriously contend for a premiership before he retires.

Other clubs are doubtful bidders because they already boast strong midfields and have other areas of their lists to address.

Geelong is almost certainly in this position, as are Melbourne, Richmond and, probably, Collingwood, whose list manager, Ned Guy, managed Sloane until he moved to the Holden Centre late last year.

The Tigers and Magpies are also believed to be among Lynch's most ardent suitors, and could not squeeze both him and Sloane inside their salary caps.

Hawthorn has also been strongly linked to Lynch, while its level of interest in Sloane could depend on whether Jaeger O'Meara can continue his promising start to 2018 and stay on top of his knee troubles.

The Bulldogs' list needs are hard to get a read on after their dismal start to 2018.

They already have their hands fairly full too, given three of their midfielders are eligible for free agency this season – Tom Liberatore, Luke Dahlhaus and Mitch Wallis – and they have already turned their attention to extending the tenure of their best player, Marcus Bontempelli, beyond its existing 2019 expiry date.

Essendon shapes as the best fit for Sloane in Victoria.

After coach John Worsfold re-signed last week until the end of 2020 he said: "We're not going on a slow build. We want to get as good as we can as quickly as we can."

So after bringing in Jake Stringer, Devon Smith and Adam Saad in last year's trade period, the Bombers will be targeting experience again this year.

The biggest hole on their list? The midfield. The on-ball type they're crying out for? An inside bull to replace Jobe Watson. Rory Sloane, come on down.

St Kilda is another likely suitor for the Crows star.

Although questions remain about the quality of the Saints' list, they are overdue in their quest to return to the finals.

Although their preference would be to snare an on-ball star with elite foot skills – they made a big play for Giant Josh Kelly last year – Sloane is unquestionably an elite player and could prove irresistible if he decides to explore free agency. 

Victorian clubs will be prepared to offer Lynch long-term contracts in the Dustin Martin and Tom Boyd range (seven years) – and possibly longer – but Sloane's age again puts him in a different position.

Club sources suggested the longest contract Sloane could command from a Victorian club would be four years, a term that would see him turn 32 in the final season.

Before any of this can happen, Sloane has a decision to make: Does he want to return to his home state or stay at this football home of the past 10 years? 

A complicating factor is that Sloane's restricted free agent status means the Crows can match any rival bid.

Sloane has made it clear his decision will be made jointly with his wife, Belinda, who is also from Victoria.

"It's more than my future. It is a decision we will make as a family," he said late last year.

Belinda Sloane is a television presenter and there have been strong murmurings she is keen to get home to Melbourne to be closer to family and to broaden her career opportunities.

Regardless of how much truth there is in such speculation, clubs are increasingly focusing on addressing the needs of partners both when they're trying to (a) retain their players and (b) attract players from rival clubs.

Despite reports in Adelaide before the home and away season that Sloane was close to re-signing, the Crows star appears determined not to rush to a decision.

His new manager, Alex McDonald, is not someone who typically provides a running commentary on contract negotiations, either publically or off the record, which will make getting a read on Sloane's mindset that much harder.

Adelaide has been through similar contract standoffs before, most recently with Patrick Dangerfield in 2015 and Jake Lever last season.

But where both of those players ultimately decided to return home to Victoria – Dangerfield moving to Geelong and Lever to Melbourne – it's understood Adelaide is confident Sloane won't leave the Crows' nest.