Fremantle have put to Richmond what they consider a "really strong offer" for contracted dynamo Shai Bolton in an attempt to get the Tigers to the table.
Elsewhere, Essendon enigma Jake Stringer appears increasingly likely to request a trade to GWS.
Bolton looms as the missing piece for a Fremantle team that has a hard-edged and classy midfield, an emerging forward line and sturdy defence without a star game changer.
Bolton, who can turn games as both a forward and midfielder, clearly fits the bill.
Dual-premiership Tiger Bolton, 25, is determined to return to his home state of Western Australia despite being contracted until the end of 2028.
He hasn't nominated Fremantle officially but the Dockers loom as his destination given they hold a strong draft hand (picks No.10, 11 and 18.)
The offer currently on the table is reportedly picks No.10 and 18.
“We’ve obviously been in discussions with Shai and his manager for a little while now ... he’s very keen to get back to Western Australia,” Fremantle's general manager of football, strategy and special projects Peter Bell said.
"We've been in a lot of discussions so hopefully that can come to fruition over the next week or so."
Bell wouldn't say what he considered too high an asking price for Bolton, given his contracted status.
“We’ve gone in with what we believe to be a really strong offer," Bell said on AFL Trade Radio.
"As everyone is aware the draft is very strong. So the offer that we’ve put forward is strong on any given year, but particularly this year we believe it to be a strong offer.
“There is a fair amount of negotiation to go so I’ll let Wallsy (Fremantle list boss David Walls) and Blair Hartley (Richmond list boss) do that over the next week, but hopefully from a Fremantle perspective we can make it work.”
The Tigers are set for a busy trade period.
Gold Coast have pick No.6 on the table for contracted half-back Daniel Rioli while West Coast will work with Richmond on a deal for Liam Baker.
Jack Graham has already joined the Eagles as a free agent.
Stringer had a contract for next season with Essendon but opted to explore his options as he wants at least a two-year deal.
Sydney and Collingwood both ruled out making a play for the forward before the Giants expressed their interest late.
The Swans have knocked back North Melbourne's offer of pick No.62 for veteran Luke Parker, who is contracted to Sydney until 2025.
Geelong announced on Wednesday the re-signing of Jake Kolodjashnij, Jed Bews, Lawson Humphries and Ted Clohesy.
Kolodjashnij has signed on until the end of 2026, with Bews and Clohesy earning deals for 2025.
Humphries, the No.63 pick from the 2023 national draft who was a revelation for the Cats this year, has signed on until 2026.
In other news, Fremantle announced the arrival of former Perth Wildcats captain Damian Martin as the new head of the club's leadership program.
Martin replaces former Western Bulldogs skipper Bob Murphy, who was boss of Fremantle's women's program and head of leadership before returning to Victoria.
