FREMANTLE could send its No.3 selection in next month's NAB AFL Draft to Greater Western Sydney as part of a series of pick swaps to land young forward Cam McCarthy.
The Dockers are set to secure McCarthy from GWS early in the NAB AFL Trade Period with talks understood to have continued over the weekend between the two clubs.
The Giants are keen to move up the draft order as much as possible and were willing to complete a trade for McCarthy involving only pick swaps.
It is understood a host of different scenarios were tossed up by the clubs over the weekend, including those involving the Dockers' pick No.3.
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If Fremantle did part with its equal-highest pick since 1999, it could still expect to emerge with a top 10 pick under the proposal.
The Giants hold selection No.7 and they hope to receive No.5 from Carlton in a deal for Caleb Marchbank.
GWS also holds first-round picks No.15 and No.16, as well as second-round selections No.31 and No.33, which could make their way to Fremantle under different arrangements.
The Dockers have a gulf between their first pick at No.3 and second selection at No.39 and need to land more mid-range picks to facilitate deals for Bradley Hill (Hawthorn) and Shane Kersten (Geelong).
They are also reportedly interested in Western Bulldogs premiership defender Joel Hamling, who is yet to re-sign after a magnificent Grand Final performance.
• Key dates for the NAB AFL Trade Period
The Dockers should receive a second-round compensation pick for free agent Chris Mayne, but Hayden Ballantyne is more likely to depart for a third-round selection.
It is believed the Dockers would accept West Coast's pick No.49 for Ballantyne, but the Eagles are prioritising their search for a ruckman.
Ballantyne's future will become clearer when representatives from all 18 clubs meet at Etihad Stadium between 10am and 2pm on Monday and the official trade window opens.
Player managers from around the country will also make their way to Melbourne to help broker deals for those of their clients on the move.
Sydney Swans ruckman Toby Nankervis is expected to decide this week whether he wants a trade after not being able to cement a senior spot despite good performances in 12 matches with the club.
Richmond appears to be in the box seat as it looks for back-up to Shaun Hampson while the Western Bulldogs are understood to have shown some interest in the 22-year-old.
Collingwood bid farewell to Travis Cloke, Jack Frost and Jarrod Witts at Friday night's Copeland Trophy and the trio is expected to find its way to the Bulldogs the Brisbane Lions and Gold Coast respectively without too much drama.
The Magpies would be happy to keep free agent Nathan Brown after North Melbourne cooled on the 27-year-old due to the impact it would have on the compensation it might receive if Daniel Wells chooses to depart to Collingwood.
While there is still some expectation Brown might leave Collingwood, no club has yet emerged that is keen on the premiership defender.
Indicative draft order: What picks will your club take to the draft
Carlton's negotiations to snare Marchbank won't be easy but he should get there in the end with James Stewart potentially forming part of a deal.
It is understood the Giants are keen to retain Stewart but won't stand in his way if he is able to attract an offer they can't match.
Western Bulldogs midfielder Nathan Hrovat has fielded interest from several clubs, including the Blues.
Geelong's Josh Cowan and Daniel Menzel are likely to stay at the Cats while Nathan Vardy is open to a trade, which could see him move outside Victoria.
With new football managers at three clubs since the home and away season, some players that appeared on the outer or headed to a specific club might have to change their thinking as clubs reassess their thinking.
Negotiations around Gold Coast pair Jaeger O'Meara and Dion Prestia, and potentially Tom Mitchell – if he chooses to leave the Swans and head to Victoria – are expected to slow many other moves down if they can't be settled in the first week of the trade period.
