Sydney face the prospect of tense negotiations with Melbourne and Collingwood over contracted targets Brodie Grundy and Taylor Adams as they seek to move into AFL premiership contention.
The Swans have their sights on Grundy to fill their No.1 ruck role after the Demons pulled the pin on their attempts to partner him with captain Max Gawn.
Melbourne list boss Tim Lamb believes a deal with Sydney should be "fairly straightforward".
But he has refused to reveal whether the Demons want more in return for Grundy than what they gave up last year - pick No.27 - to secure the ruck star from Collingwood.
"He is contracted and we don't need him to go. If we can't get a deal done we're more than comfortable for him to stay," Lamb said on Monday.
"We have said to Brodes that we're open to it as long as it's a fair and equitable transaction with Sydney."
Grundy shapes as an experienced replacement for retired ruckman Tom Hickey at Sydney.
"We need to address our ruck division," Swans football boss Charlie Gardiner said.
"It's something that we've identified as a priority for a young midfield group that we think (Grundy) will really add to and provide some experience and leadership."
Gardiner insisted the move for Adams was not linked to trading for his former Collingwood teammate and close friend Grundy.
Adams, who is seeking more midfield time, made his bombshell trade request official on Sunday and wants to take up a three-year deal with Sydney.
The 30-year-old missed out on the Magpies' premiership last month through injury and has one season left on his existing contract.
List boss Graham Wright said Collingwood had not discussed extending Adams' contract to tempt him to stay but intends to drive a hard bargain with the Swans.
"Taylor's part of our leadership group and would've been in our grand final team," Wright said.
"He's been vice-captain of the club, so from our perspective we see him as a required player.
"But we'll have conversations with Sydney and see where it goes."
The Magpies are also set to enter talks with Fremantle over contracted forward Lachie Schultz, who has requested a trade to Victoria for personal reasons.
The Dockers have declared Schultz a "required player" but the goal sneak and pressure specialist is keen to move to Collingwood.
Port Adelaide's Xavier Duursma has requested a trade to Essendon, who could send defender Brandon Zerk-Thatcher in the opposite direction.
Zerk-Thatcher has a three-year deal on the table from the Bombers but is keen to get to the Power.
Veteran ruckman Todd Goldstein has joined Essendon from North Melbourne on a one-year deal as an unrestricted free agent.
Adelaide defender Tom Doedee has joined Brisbane after the Crows opted not to match the grand finalists' offer to the restricted free agent.
The Crows will receive an end-of-round-one compensation draft pick (currently No.19).
Gold Coast sealed a quick deal to offload the No.4 draft pick to the Western Bulldogs to help secure a trio of talented academy players.
The Bulldogs traded their first two picks (currently No.10 and No.17) plus a future first-round pick for pick No.4, the Suns' third-round picks (No.46 and No.51) and a future third-rounder.
rap
