FREMANTLE has done medical checks on Essendon's Scott Gumbleton as it tries to work out whether to make a play for the injury-prone key forward.

Fremantle football manager Chris Bond said the club had been open with Essendon about bringing the 24-year-old to Perth for tests.

"We've got Scott over, we've done the medicals," Bond said on Gillette AFL Trade Radio.

"We're really comfortable with where it's at. We think we've got a bit of time with it.

"We're never going to make any promises to Scott or his manager or Essendon that we can’t keep. We've still got to work through some stuff."

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Gumbleton's injury problems have limited him to only 28 games since he made his debut in 2007 after being taken at No.2 in 2006 national draft.

His most recent big setback was at the end of last season when he had major back surgery. He's also had knee and hamstring problems.

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Bond said Fremantle is keen to add another key forward to its list because of the imminent end of Matthew Pavlich's career.

"It’s paramount for us," Bond said.

Pavlich is 30, and shouldered the bulk of Fremantle's load in its forward half this year.

Zac Clarke, Kepler Bradley and John Anthony also played as tall forwards but none are seen as long-term key targets.

Anthony is out of contract. "We’ll sit down in the next couple of weeks and work through that," Bond said.

He said half-back Adam McPhee is expected to sign another contract shortly.

Fellow defender Dylan Roberton has asked to be traded to a Victorian club.