COLLINGWOOD has emerged as a suitor for Michael Hurley as the Essendon key defender weighs up his future.
The star backman has attracted interest from many clubs, and has already been linked to the Western Bulldogs, Melbourne, St Kilda and Adelaide.
The Bulldogs appear best positioned to pounce on Hurley if he decides to leave the Bombers, but AFL.com.au understands the Magpies are also in the mix for Hurley, who is one of five suspended Bombers yet to reveal their intentions for next season once their 12-month WADA bans end.
On Monday night, Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley confirmed the Magpies' interest and said the club had contacted Hurley's agent.
"We've spoken to his manager and management," Buckley told Fox Footy.
"Any time an A-grade talent wants to look elsewhere than his footy club, we'll be in the mix."
The main stumbling block for Collingwood would be how it can engineer a trade with the Bombers given the Pies are without a first-round draft pick this year after securing Adam Treloar last off-season.
Through that trade the Pies offloaded successive first-round draft selections, which may limit their ability to trade at the exchange period this October.
Hurley is contracted to the Bombers until the end of next year (when he becomes a free agent) so to leave the club would need to exit as part of a deal.
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Opinions are divided whether a player could leave the club as a free agent through a grievance tribunal after the Bombers' disastrous supplements program.
The Bombers have put forward an updated contract offer to Hurley to tie him to the club until the end of 2022, but the 26-year-old has been mulling over whether to continue his 119-game career at Essendon or seek a fresh start.
Captain Jobe Watson, midfielder Ben Howlett, and defenders Michael Hibberd and Tayte Pears are the other Bombers yet to confirm their plans for next season.
Last week veteran midfielder Brent Stanton recommitted for 2017, with coach John Worsfold remaining bullish Hurley will also be in the red and black next year.
Hurley recently returned to Melbourne after an overseas holiday and Worsfold said the Bombers would soon need to know the players' plans.
"For every week that goes on, it is getting tighter. But that doesn't mean we're in a rush right now. We're more than comfortable for the boys to get back from overseas and my guess is that that opens up next week to find out where they're at," Worsfold said.
"I've been involved in the game for a long time and the length of time doesn't always correlate to mean someone's leaving. If you go back and do your data checks, I'd say the odds are still in our favour."
