Losing classy forward Jade Gresham to Essendon could open the door for St Kilda to land Fremantle speedster Liam Henry.
The Saints have secured draft selection 21 as compensation for losing Gresham to the Bombers, which could now be used in a trade to satisfy the Dockers for Henry.
The Noongar man has played 43 games across four seasons but had a breakout year at the club in 2023.
The Dockers were reportedly asking for a late first rounder for Henry after originally drafting the talented wingman with the ninth pick in the 2019 AFL Draft.
"We made a significant investment in Liam, not just through our Next Generation Academy, matching Carlton's bid under NGA concession rules in the 2019 Draft, and it was pleasing to see his potential come to fruition this year," the club's General Manager of Football, Peter Bell said last month.
"We will have this investment and his talent as a winger front of mind when looking to facilitate a trade."
Bell doubled-down on these sentiments earlier in the week on AFL Trade Radio stating that the club was disappointed to lose the 22-year-old.
"We and he had to build his body and develop his game and we were just starting to see the fruits of his and court labours and in that context, we are disappointed he's elected to ply his labour elsewhere," he said.
Fremantle have had a tumultuous trade period with small forward Lachie Schulz requesting a trade to Collingwood despite still being under contract by the club.
If a deal cannot be met with St Kilda, Hawthorn remain another potential suitor to Henry and could consider trying to use Tyler Brockman in a trade to the Dockers.
Brockman – a West Australian – has requested a trade to his home state, but is believed to only be interested in playing for the West Coast Eagles.
The Dockers are very interested in the 20-year-old Yamatji man and according to reports in The West Australian the club have offered the small forward a four-year deal.
The AFL's Callum Twomey has reported that West Coast have offered pick 44 in exchange for Brockman, but Hawthorn will want more in order to agree to the trade.
Brockman has played 26 games – including 15 in 2023 – for the Hawks since being drafted in 2020.
In other trade news, Melbourne have reportedly offered Adelaide a future second-round pick in exchange for Shane McAdam.
