THE BRISBANE Lions are eyeing out-of-contract Collingwood ruckman Jarrod Witts as they look to bolster their big man department at the end of the year.

Witts has struggled to break into the Magpies' line-up this year, featuring in just two games and falling behind American import Mason Cox in the club's ruck preferences.

The Lions are one of several clubs believed to have the 23-year-old on their recruiting radar as they deal with a shortage of ruck options.

Stefan Martin has shouldered the majority of the Lions' ruck responsibilities this season, with experienced back-up Trent West playing just four games in what could be his last AFL season. They are the only recognised ruckmen on the Lions' senior list, with developing project player Archie Smith a rookie.

Restricted free agent Matthew Leuenberger left the Lions at the end of last season to join Essendon.

Witts has played 40 games at Collingwood in five seasons at the club since being drafted as a New South Wales scholarship holder in 2011. His best season with the Magpies came in 2014, when he played 20 games and averaged 19 hit-outs.

He signed a three-year deal with the Pies in 2013 that expires at the end of the season and offers readymade experience in a ruck role.

Last year's trade and exchange period saw a number of ruckmen move clubs for greater opportunities, including Callum Sinclair (from West Coast to the Sydney Swans), Dan Currie (North Melbourne to Gold Coast), Andrew Phillips (GWS to Carlton), Jonathan Giles (Essendon to West Coast) and Jack Fitzpatrick (Melbourne to Hawthorn).

Witts is one of a handful of rucks to have garnered rival interest this year, with Fremantle's Zac Clarke an unrestricted free agent and Gold Coast big man Tom Nicholls remaining unsigned beyond this year.

Nicholls, a Victorian who joined the Suns as a 17-year-old access selection, has said he is keen to stay at the club for the long-term but is out of contract at the end of the year as negotiations continue for a new deal for the 24-year-old.

Despite their disappointing season, the Lions have assembled an impressive group of younger players, with the likes of Josh Schache, Eric Hipwood, Harris Andrews and Dan McStay showing encouraging signs as developing key talls.

The club also looks set to hold a top-two pick at this year's NAB AFL Draft, which would be able to secure them a talented midfielder or smaller type given the lack of talls at the top-end of this year's crop.