WITH Port Adelaide confirming vice-captain Shaun Burgoyne has requested a trade to a Melbourne-based club, suitors are rallying to win the premiership midfielder's services.
Trade week begins on Monday 5 October and a turbulent exchange period is shaping up with a number of experienced and talented players set to move clubs.
Essendon skipper Matthew Lloyd's position is growing more complicated, while Richmond midfielder Shane Tuck has joined teammates Nathan Brown and Mark Coughlan in the search for a new club.
North Melbourne's Josh Gibson, Essendon speedster Andrew Lovett and West Coast ruckman Mark Seaby are other key players reported to be seeking new homes.
Burgoyne is the most valuable player set to be up for grabs during trade week and The Age reports that Hawthorn, Collingwood and Essendon have shown strong interest in the talented playmaker.
The 26-year-old has walked out on the club after 157 games and wants to continue his career at a Melbourne-based club where he has football ties.
The Australian reports that Hawthorn is the front-runner to secure his services, however, Melbourne, which holds the first pick in the pre-season draft, is in the box seat should Port Adelaide play hardball and lose the out of contract midfielder for nothing.
Power football manager Peter Rohde says the club has not given up hope of retaining Burgoyne and it would risk losing him for nothing if a trade that benefits the Power doesn't eventuate.
The Age reports that Lloyd, who is out of contract at Essendon, is leaning towards retirement rather than taking up a one-year offer with the Bombers.
Teammate Lovett has also been caught up in trade speculation with The Australian reporting that the 27-year-old is seeking a fresh start after 88 games with the Bombers.
West Coast, Fremantle, Hawthorn and the Sydney Swans are all reported to be interested in the line-breaking midfielder.
Contracted Tiger Tuck, 28, is the latest name to surface in trade talks, with the midfielder reportedly agreeing to be traded despite having one more year to run on his contract.
Tuck, 28, was runner-up to Brett Deledio in the Tigers' best and fairest last year but failed to reach those heights in 2009.
Teammate Brown is also looking for a new club after being told prior to round 22 that the club would not retain him. The Herald-Sun reports that four clubs are interested in the 31-year-old.
Richmond defender Andrew Raines appears on the move with The Australian reporting that the Queenslander is bound for the Brisbane Lions in exchange for the club's third round draft pick.
Elsewhere, North Melbourne has stood firm on defender Gibson, continuing to label the 25-year-old a required player amid reports that he wants to be traded.
The Age reports that Gibson has requested a trade to Hawthorn and he is prepared to walk in the pre-season draft if a deal cannot be struck.
Defenders are high on a number of club's shopping lists and The Herald-Sun has linked emerging West Coast backman Matt Spangher, 22, to Carlton.
The Victorian was a second round draft pick (No.34) at the 2005 NAB AFL Draft but endured an injury-plagued start to his career with the Eagles.
However, he broke into the side this season playing 11 games, his last in round 22 being his best in an 18-game career.
Teammate Seaby has been linked to Collingwood and the Sydney Swans by The West Australian, while Brent Staker has requested a trade out of Subiaco Oval. The Brisbane Lions, North Melbourne and the Swans are reportedly showing interest.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
