WEST Coast could soon be on the lookout for a new ruckman — and they have a Saints big man in their sights And as for St Kilda, it’s the latest club to throw its hand into the ring for Giants star Dylan Shiel. It’s all in AFL Trade Whispers! Get ready for cricket like never before. FREE Sport HD + Entertainment until the first 4K cricket ball as part of 3 months free on a 12 month plan. SIGN UP TODAY. T&Cs apply > EAGLE KEEN ON HICKEY West Coast is interested in contracted St Kilda ruckman Tom Hickey, according to foxfooty.com.au senior reporter Tom Morris. With uncertainty surrounding current ruckman Scott Lycett, who’s set to land at Port Adelaide next season, the Eagles have begun looking elsewhere for an alternative. And Hickey, a former Sun who’s played just 79 games across eight seasons, is on the Eagles’ trade wishlist, according to Morris. LISTEN TO THE LATEST EPISODE OF THE FOX FOOTY PODCAST BELOW, OR TAP HERE TO SUBSCRIBE IN ITUNES “West Coast are very interested in Tom Hickey, I can tell you that this evening and they’re also interested in a number of ruckman, including Jordan Roughead,” Morris told Fox Sports News’ AFL Tonight. “Clearly they’re thinking Scott Lycett is out the door and Tom Hickey is at the very top of their whiteboard, even though he is contracted. “My information is if they were to offer a longer term contract and get a trade done, Hickey would be very much open to moving west.” SAINTS INTERESTED IN GIANT GUN ANOTHER Victorian club has joined the race for gun Giants midfielder Dylan Shiel, with St Kilda interested in his services should he elect to leave GWS, reports The Age. The Saints have the salary cap room for the Giants midfielder, who has attracted the interest of multiple clubs — despite being contracted. The on-baller is out of contract in 2019, making him a free agent. It could lead to the club looking to do a deal and receive more from a trade this year, rather than if he walked as a free agent. Besides St Kilda, Essendon and Hawthorn are two other clubs keen on gaining to services on Shiel. St Kilda has also been linked with Sydney’s Daniel Hannebery, but currently hold just one pick inside the top 50, making it hard for the bottom-three side to do a deal. Many Victorian clubs are interested in Dylan Shiel of the Giants. Source: AAP SUNS CONSIDERING A PLAY FOR TIGERS VFL BALL MAGNET RICHMOND midfielder Anthony Miles has met with the Gold Coast Suns about a possible move north, according to AFL Media. Miles has played just one AFL game in 2018, but has dominated in the VFL for two straight seasons and is on the Suns’ radar as they look to bolster their playing group. It comes just 12 months after Miles was linked to a move to other clubs yet ultimately remained loyal to the Tigers for the 2018 season. Miles played 19 games in 2016, but has only managed six since and a move to the Suns would almost undoubtedly provide more opportunity. The former Greater Western Sydney player joined the Tigers in the 2013 off-season. The Suns are also reportedly interested in Brisbane Lions academy midfielder Ben Keays, who has played just two AFL games in 2018.<doc-sep>UPDATE: NORTH Melbourne remains in pole position to lure Jared Polec and is willing to deal its first round selection to Port Adelaide, with one condition. If the wingman does ask for a trade, the Kangaroos are happy to deal what is currently Pick 10 to the Power, so long as they can receive a second-round pick in return. Negotiations are believed to be in their infancy and by no means formal, but it appears the Power would prefer to give a third-round selection and Polec rather than a second-round pick as North will likely request. Get 3 months free Sport HD + Entertainment on a 12 month plan and watch every match of every round of the 2018 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. T & Cs apply. SIGN UP NOW > Port Adelaide currently holds Pick 9 in the first round, Picks 21 and 27 (the former from St Kilda) in the second round, and Pick 45 in the third round. North Melbourne holds Picks 10, 28, 39 and 53 in the first three rounds. The Roos remain in the box seat for Polec as Foxfooty.com.au can reveal St Kilda’s offer has not increased for more than two months and is well below the Kangaroos’ reported $750,000 over five seasons. This is contrary to Monday evening’s reports in Adelaide that declared the Saints have thrown a monster $800,000 per year deal at the 25 year-old across five seasons. Polec remains a wanted man at Moorabbin, but not for the hefty price tag North Melbourne have attached to his value. Indeed one insider said the Saints offer is “absolutely nowhere near” $700,000 per season, let alone $800,000. Speaking on AFL 360, St Kilda coach Alan Richardson remain tight-lipped about the club’s interest in Polec. “We are hot for any player that we think can help our list,” Richardson said on Fox Footy. North Melbourne still leads the race Jared Polec of the Power. Source: AAP “I don’t get involved in those sort of details. “As a coach, do I think he can help us? Yeah I reckon he can really give us something, but that’s up to Simon (Lethlean) and the crew to sort out what the deal looks like.” An $800,000 per year deal would conservatively place Polec in the top four per cent pay bracket among AFL players in 2019. Paul Roos told On The Couch the ball-winner would be “right up there” in Port Adelaide’s best and fairest. LISTEN TO THE LATEST EPISODE OF THE FOX FOOTY PODCAST BELOW, OR TAP HERE TO SUBSCRIBE IN ITUNES He was ranked fourth for total kicks in the league this season and third for total metres gained. Even if Polec does nominate St Kilda on a price tag that is below North Melbourne’s, the Saints and Power will have to orchestrate a trade to complete negotiations. This would be a difficult task given St Kilda’s dearth of draft selections between No. 5 and the late 50s. Combine this conundrum with the club’s desire to lure in-contract premiership player Dan Hannebery from Sydney to Moorabbin and it is even harder to see Polec wearing red, white and black next year without at least one Saints player involved in the exchange. Speaking to reporters last Wednesday, Port Adelaide football boss Chris Davies conceded North’s offer to Polec was likely to big to refuse. “He has got offers from other clubs,” Davies said. “I think the longer that this goes, the more likely he is to be leaving. “But he has also been absolutely categoric in saying that he loves the club, he wants to stay. “But I think the reality is going to be that the offer elsewhere is going to be too big for him to pass up.”<doc-sep>Lachie Neale of the Dockers is keen to join the Brisbane Lions. IF BRISBANE fans weren’t excited already about the prospect of poaching Lachie Neale, they will be now. Plus a frustrated Kangaroo could find a lifeline at Melbourne. All that and more in AFL Trade Whispers! Get ready for cricket like never before. FREE Sport HD + Entertainment until the first 4K cricket ball as part of 3 months free on a 12 month plan. SIGN UP TODAY. T&Cs apply. NEALE ‘WANTS TO BE AT THE LIONS’ THE Brisbane Lions want Lachie Neale — and Lachie Neale wants to play at the Brisbane Lions, according to AFL 360 co-host Mark Robinson. Shock reports emerged on Thursday that the Lions were in hot pursuit of Neale, to the point where they were prepared to put their first-round draft pick on the table as part of a possible deal with the Fremantle Dockers. Gerard Whateley said the tea-leaves suggested that Neale is “very much up for a move to Brisbane” from the Dockers. But co-host Robinson went one step further. “I think you can replace the tea-leaves and put it in concrete,” Robinson told Fox Footy’s AFL 360. “He wants to be at the Lions, he has told the Lions, through various people if not himself, that he wants to be at the football club next year. “There’s a lot of water to go under the bridge. He’s contracted for another year, but he is up for free agency at the end of next year and that always complicates matters.” Neale, the Dockers’ second-best midfielder behind captain Nat Fyfe, is a strong chance to win his second Fremantle best and fairest award in the coming weeks. The 25-year-old was named in the 40-man All-Australian squad after a stellar 2018 campaign, which saw him average of 30 touches a game and rank inside the league’s top 10 for average contested possessions and clearances. Robinson said it would be a huge coup for the Lions if they could snare Neale from the Dockers. “Brisbane should be so proud of themselves. They are now becoming a destination club,” Robinson said. “(Charlie) Cameron, (Luke) Hodge and if they can get Lachie Neale, the floodgates will open.” Neale is set to meet with Fremantle chief executive Steve Rosich late this week. Lachie Neale of the Dockers might join Brisbane. Source: Getty Images DEES PONDERING ROO PREUSS MELBOURNE could be the new footy home for out-of-favour Kangaroos ruckman Braydon Preuss, according to AFL Media. Despite averaging 14 disposals, three marks and 47 hit-outs per VFL game this season, Preuss couldn’t force his way into the North Melbourne team for a senior game this season, constantly stuck behind Todd Goldstein and Majak Daw. Earlier this year, Preuss admitted he was “pissed off” that he couldn’t play a senior game this season. But AFL Media reports that North Melbourne has been “gauging rivals’ interest” around Preuss, while the Demons are open to bringing in a ready-made ruckman as back-up for Max Gawn, as well as support younger rucks Mitch King or Lachlan Filipovic. Preuss, 23, is contracted to North Melbourne until the end of the 2020 AFL season but could find himself at another club over the coming months. The Queenslander played eight games for the Kangaroos in 2017, with four coming in the first four rounds and the other four coming in the final rounds. Braydon Preuss of the Kangaroos could join Tomas Bugg at the Demons. Source: AAP Preuss’ presence and promise gave coach Brad Scott and North’s match committee a genuine selection conundrum each week. However the Roos this season settled on the Goldstein-Daw combination, with both players finding form as the season progressed. FREO’S LOW HOPES FOR GUN CROW FREMANTLE chief executive Steve Rosich admits it’s unlikely his club will land wantaway Crows forward Mitch McGovern should he depart South Australia. McGovern informed Adelaide this week that he would like to be traded to another club, despite being contracted to the Crows for a further two years. Carlton has emerged as the early favourite for McGovern’s services, but he’s also been linked to both Western Australian clubs. However Rosich, who’s remarkably taken charge of Fremantle’s list management since Brad Lloyd’s defection to Carlton, didn’t have high hopes of McGovern joining the Dockers. “I have spoken to Mitch’s manager (Colin Young),” Rosich told 6PR. “We’ll see what unfolds, but at this stage it looks like if he’s not at Adelaide it might be at a Melbourne-based team.” Star Eagles defender, and McGovern’s brother, Jeremy McGovern on Tuesday night said he’d love to have Mitch back in WA — even if it meant he had to wear purple.<doc-sep>
FREMANTLE and West Coast could be battling it out for a homesick Bulldog. But the Dockers have a fight on their hand to hold onto star midfielder Lachie Neale It’s all in AFL Trade Whispers! Get ready for cricket like never before. FREE Sport HD + Entertainment until the first 4K cricket ball as part of 3 months free on a 12 month plan. SIGN UP TODAY. T&Cs apply > ‘HOMESICK’ BULLDOG THINKING ABOUT EXIT WESTERN Bulldogs defender Marcus Adams could be on the move at season’s end with the 25-year-old tall weighing up leaving the club, reports Seven News Melbourne. Channel 7’s Mark Stevens reported on Wednesday night that Adams still has two years remaining on a deal with the Dogs, but is considering a move home back to Western Australia. Adams was drafted out of the WAFL in 2015 by the Bulldogs and has played 27 games in the red, white and blue — but played just six AFL games this season. LISTEN TO THE LATEST EPISODE OF THE FOX FOOTY PODCAST BELOW, OR TAP HERE TO SUBSCRIBE IN ITUNES Stevens reported that ‘homesickness’ could be a reason for the possible trade, with Adams having considered a move home in the past. Both Fremantle and West Coast are the ‘logical frontrunners’ if he seeks a trade. LYON, NEALE MEETING PEACEFUL FREMANTLE coach Ross Lyon and star midfielder Lachie Neale did not have a heated confrontation, despite Neale’s wish to move to Brisbane, according to AFL Tonight’s Jon Ralph. Reports had surfaced in recent days that Neale had had a bust-up with Lyon in his exit meeting. Those suggestions came days after Neale flew to Brisbane to meet with the Lions as a trade that would see the start midfielder cross the country for the 2019 season looms increasingly more likely. But Herald Sun journalist Ralph insisted Neale and Lyon had a calm and respectful meeting. “I’ve spoken to a lot of people close to him and they utterly deny (a dust-up),” Ralph told Fox Sports News’ AFL Tonight. MORE AFL NEWS 44-GAME REBUILD: THE GENIUS BEHIND HAWKS’ UNLIKELY FLAG CHASE ‘JUST ISN’T FAIR’: LYNCH’S TIGERS MOVE SPARKS FREE AGENCY DEBATE BLOWTORCH: TIGERS RUNNING OUT OF GAS? LITTLE MASTER BACK ON THE BIG STAGE “He’s spoken to Ross a number of times over the last couple of weeks, including (Wednesday) morning.” Ralph said Neale wouldn’t leave the Dockers hanging for too long. “He’s been to Brisbane and looked at what they could bring to him,” Ralph said. “He’s got a couple of weeks now to assess his options, (but) it shouldn’t drag on too long, because if they do trade him, Fremantle need to know what to do with that pick.” Should Neale leave, the Dockers would almost certainly get more return for losing Neale via a trade this year, rather than losing him to free agency next year. A ‘FEW CLUBS’ CHASING MCGOVERN MULTIPLE AFL clubs are circling Adelaide forward Mitch McGovern. McGovern’s manager Colin Young met with Carlton on Wednesday, with Channel 7’s Tom Browne declaring he was ‘almost a certainty’ to nominate the Blues. But Young told Seven News Melbourne that it was far from a done deal to Carlton. “Not it’s not. Andrew (McDougall) and I are here for the week to discuss Mitch with a few clubs, certainly Carlton in the mix, so hopefully by Thursday or Friday we’ll have an idea.” McGovern is signed a new deal with the Crows until the end of 2020 last year, but told the club of his intensions to seek a trade last month. DOGS CHASING TIGER BUT VETERANS TO RE-SIGN FRINGE Richmond midfielder Sam Lloyd has attracted interest from several rival clubs, particularly the Bulldogs, while veteran duo Bachar Houli and Shaun Grigg are set to recommit to the Tigers, reports Seven News Melbourne. After playing all 22 games in 2016, Lloyd has played just 15 matches over the past two seasons, despite averaging 17.4 disposals from his seven games this year. Channel 7’s Mark Stevens reported on Wednesday night that rivals clubs were inquiring about Lloyd, with the Bulldogs showing “keen interest”. Lloyd is an emergency for Richmond’s qualifying final against Hawthorn on Thursday night. Grigg and Houli, who were key members of the Tigers’ 2017 premiership triumph, are both eligible for free agency at season’s end. Tiger Sam Lloyd could be set for a move to the Bulldogs.