Carlton are understood to be considering a move for St Kilda midfielder Luke Dunstan as the Saints look to land Brad Crouch from Adelaide.

Dunstan feature just once in the red, black and white in 2020 after a pectoral injury cut his season short, but that hasn't stopped reports suggesting he could find a new club for next year.

According to Essendon great Matthew Lloyd, the Blues are believed to have Dunstan on their radar this trade period.

โ€œMy St Kilda man has also spoken about how this deal (Brad Crouch) will force out a favourite son and a much-loved player at the Saints in Luke Dunstan, who is very, very close to a lot of key players at the club,โ€ Lloyd told AFL Trade Radioโ€™s The Early Trade.

โ€œThe Blues are looking at Luke Dunstan as an inside midfielder to assist Patrick Cripps.

โ€œHe might be a bargain pick up for Carlton to try and help Cripps with some of the physicality through the midfield.โ€

Port Adelaide champion Kane Cornes questioned why the Crows hadn't pushed for Dunstan, who is a South Australian local.

โ€œI was a little bit surprised that Dunstan didnโ€™t draw more interest from Adelaide,โ€ Cornes said.

โ€œWith the bodies theyโ€™ve lost through the midfield in recent years with (Cam) Ellis-Yolmen, (Hugh) Greenwood and now (Brad) Crouch, I would have thought they needed some help for the youngster in there.โ€

Dunstan, as well as defensive duo Dylan Roberton and Jimmy Webster, have all been linked to departures at St Kilda.