AFL great Gerard Healy has named four potential suitors for out-of-favour Demon Sam Weideman.
After being selected with pick No.9 in the 2015 National Draft, Weideman has played 44 games and kicked 46 goals for the Dees.
The 23-year old has failed to appear at AFL level this year since returning from a stress fracture to his lower leg suffered in the pre-season. But he has been in a rich vein of form in the VFL, booting 14 goals from three games.
Healy suggested that the Bombers, Magpies, Suns and Swans should launch a bid at the emerging forward, who is out-of-contract at season's end.
“I’ve written these four teams down: Essendon, Collingwood, Gold Coast and Sydney,” Healy said on 3AW Sportsday.
Healy last week urged rival clubs to enquire about the availability of Weideman, saying if he isn't in Melbourne's best 22 by mid-season, opposition teams 'would come from everywhere.'
Furthermore, AFL Media’s Nat Edwards and Damian Barrett said on AFL Daily that Collingwood should target Weideman, whose late grandfather Murray is a legend of the club.
Murray Weideman played 180 AFL games for the Magpies, winning a premiership in 1953 and captaining the club to the 1958 flag.
“I love that idea you’ve just raised there for the Pies to go and get him, particularly with that surname,” Barrett said.
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Despite Weideman's impressive numbers in the twos, the form of new recruit Ben Brown and key forward Tom McDonald has kept Weideman out of AFL selection.
Brown has kicked five goals in his two matches this season, while Tom McDonald has kicked 13 goals across his eight matches. Bayley Fritsch leads Melbourne's goal kicking tally with 18 goals for the season.
AFL Legend Leigh Matthews told Sportsday he doesn't "know where they're going to fit him in".
He alluded to the idea that Weideman's AFL future could lie at another club if he remains on the outer for the majority of the season.
"If they can't fit Sam Weideman in regularly, then he is going to look for another opportunity," Matthew said.