WEST Coast has sounded out Western Bulldogs veteran Will Minson as the Eagles "cast a pretty wide net" in their search for ruck options, football manager Craig Vozzo says.
The Eagles have been linked to a host of big men who could help cover the loss of Nic Naitanui to a ruptured ACL for most, if not all, of next season.
West Coast's No.2 ruckman Scott Lycett will also be racing against time to be fit for round one after undergoing PCL surgery.
Injury-plagued Geelong big man Nathan Vardy underwent a medical with the Eagles during the week, while the club quashed speculation that North Melbourne gun Todd Goldstein or Port Adelaide's out-of-favour ruckman Matthew Lobbe is on its radar.
But former All Australian big man Minson, who bid farewell at the Dogs' club champion, is a free agent and West Coast is looking at the 31-year-old as a short-term option.
"We've cast a pretty wide net … we've spoken to managers of a number of players and a number of players as well," Vozzo told 6PR.
"Will Minson was another we spoke to, but we're just working through that.
"The draft process we see as an additional way of adding to those stocks as well."
But Vozzo dismissed the Goldstein rumour, which emerged late in the week, following the Eagles' stunning trade for Hawthorn champion Sam Mitchell.
"I reckon that one's fiction, unless the coach (Adam Simpson) is scheming something behind my back," Vozzo said.
"He's (Goldstein) a wonderful player, but to get a player like that your football club takes a fair bit of planning and he's not one that we're able to do."
Goldstein's former teammate Drew Petrie is waiting to hear from the Eagles whether his services are required as a forward-ruck option and possible coach after 316 games for the Roos.
"When you look at someone like Drew you have to look at the whole package, so he'll be someone we'll consider through the free agency period and work out whether that's what we want to do," Vozzo said.
"It will be largely dependent on what we get through the door either over the next couple of weeks or over the national draft process."
Vozzo said Lycett's PCL surgery was a success and the 203cm big man is a chance to return to action early next season.
"He's tracking well. It was a PCL repair … there was one or two or even three options that could've occurred and fortunately for us it was the best option that ended up being the one that took place," Vozzo said.
"We expect post-Christmas he'll be doing a fair bit of rehab work, running and we've got some confidence he'll be available early in the year."
Meanwhile, the Eagles are set to lose a free agent, with 27-year-old key defender Mitch Brown keen to return home to Victoria.
Former club champion Eric Mackenzie has also attracted interest from several potential suitors after an indifferent season coming back from an ACL reconstruction, however West Coast is happy to keep the full-back.
"We're very comfortable with Eric on our list, we've planned to have him on our list, I think there is some interest from other clubs but the deal would have to be something that suits all parties for that to occur," Vozzo said.
"Otherwise Eric will be playing for us."
Vozzo also said salary cap pressure and the importance of scouring tall options meant a potential trade for Dockers small forward Hayden Ballantyne was not a priority at this stage.
