Liam Baker has joined Daniel Rioli and Shai Bolton in requesting trades away from Richmond, with the Tigers set to play hard ball on the latter two players.
Rioli wants to join Gold Coast while Bolton is keen to return home to Western Australia, with Fremantle expected to be his landing spot.
Baker, who also wants to return home to WA, is yet to nominate whether West Coast or Fremantle is his club of choice.
The Eagles are believed to be the frontrunners for the out-of-contract 26-year-old.
Given Baker isn't a free agent, Richmond's bargaining position is weak.
But the situation is different for Rioli (contracted until 2027) and Bolton (contracted until 2028), with Richmond not obliged to trade the star duo.
“We will listen to what the clubs have to offer and determine whether or not we believe it is a viable trade and in the best interests of the Richmond Football Club," Richmond's general manager of football performance Blair Hartley said in a statement that has drawn up the early battle lines.
Baker's request to also return home to WA could open up a bidding war between West Coast and Fremantle.
Although the Dockers are armed with three first-round picks, it's expected they will be putting their focus into snaring an X-factor talent like Bolton or Sydney's Chad Warner.
West Coast have plenty of salary cap space following the departures of Andrew Gaff, Shannon Hurn, Nic Naitanui and Luke Shuey over the past two years and could use the draft capital they receive as part of the expected Tom Barrass trade to Hawthorn to secure a deal for Baker.
Baker, with 128 games and two flags under his belt, looms as a perfect fit for the rebuilding Eagles, who are also keen to lure Richmond tackling machine Jack Graham.
The out-of-contract Graham and Baker are close friends, which could play in West Coast's favour in their attempt to lure both of them.
It's not just players who are leaving wooden spooners Richmond, with assistant coach Kane Lambert informing the club of his desire to pursue a career away from football in 2025.
Whispers are also emerging former Tigers ruckman Ivan Soldo, who is in his first year at Port Adelaide, wants a move away from the Power after being overtaken in the ruck pecking order by Jordon Sweet.
Meanwhile, Hawthorn captain James Sicily is excited by the prospect of being joined in a beefed-up defensive unit by West Coast intercept specialist Barrass next season.
Eagles vice-captain Barrass made his desire to be traded official on Tuesday, nominating the Hawks as his preferred destination.
It came despite the 28-year-old having three years to run on his contract.
Hawthorn have also been strongly linked to St Kilda defender Josh Battle after missing out last year on free agent Ben McKay, who left North Melbourne for Essendon.
Barrass has played 150 games for the Eagles and starred in their 2018 premiership.
"I'm pretty excited by that prospect," Sicily said on Wednesday.
"There's a lot of water to go under the bridge still, but that's exciting that players are seeing Hawthorn as somewhere they want to be."
Sicily has an existing relationship with Battle and could be used by the Hawks to sell the dream to the prospective recruit.
Elsewhere, speculation continues to swirl around Melbourne star Christian Petracca, who reportedly wants out of the club despite being contracted until the end of 2029.
The ongoing Petracca saga will be one of the biggest stories in the lead-up to this year's trade period, which will be held in October.
Collingwood defender John Noble has requested a trade to Gold Coast.
And two-time St Kilda best and fairest winner Seb Ross is also on the lookout for a new club, but not by choice.
The 31-year-old has been told by the Saints he will not be offered a new deal for 2025 and he's keen to continue his 211-game career elsewhere.
