Acres is out of contract at the end of this year and is yet to put pen to paper at Fremantle.
READ MORE: Carlton leading race for Blake Acres
Dogs duo linked to Kennel exit
Jason Johannisen and Zaine Cordy do not have a locked-in contract at the Western Bulldogs next year and may find themselves elsewhere in 2023.
The pair are both free agents and have the opportunity to move on and secure a better deal. It may lead to an opportunity for a longer contract with better money than the Dogs can offer.
The seemingly imminent recruitment of Rory Lobb and Liam Jones has made a spot for contracts tighter at the Kennel, as reported by The Herald Sun.
Coach Luke Beveridge is looking to fill that key defender position at the Dogs, and Cordy is not high on the list. Jones returning to the club makes the decision to re-sign the key defender much more difficult.
Beveridge has been open about re-signing Johannisen, however, he will be looking to try and get the most out of what is left of his AFL career.
FULL STORY: Bulldogs pair could face chop
Young Crow tipped to join Carlton
Contracted Adelaide defender Fischer McAsey has been touted to join Carlton at season's end, with the Blues looking to bolster their key defensive stocks.
McAsey, an East Brighton product, is currently signed to the Crows until the end of next year after turning his back on reported interest from Victorian clubs early into last season to re-sign on a two-year deal.
Remaining out of favour at West Lakes, McAsey is again gaining links to a return to his home state of Victoria, with Carlton emerging as a landing spot for the 198cm-tall backman.
According to RSN's Mark Stevens, McAsey is highly likely to venture to Ikon Park ahead of 2023.
"Fischer McAsey, Pick 6 2019 draft, he's played 10 games at Adelaide, can't quite get into the Adelaide side, it's been a mystery," Stevens said. "Just hasn't had a run at it.
"A Melbourne boy, you can write this one down... Carlton, they're all over Fischer McAsey. I believed he'll be at the Blues next year.
"They need some more key defensive stocks. I think they need quality defenders... they probably need one more."
McAsey has been utilised as a forward target throughout this season at SANFL level, booting 15 goals from 16 appearances.
FULL STORY: McAsey on Blues' radar
Melican open to leaving Sydney
Sydney Swans defender Lewis Melican is reportedly open to being traded to a rival club, despite having one more year to serve on his three-year contract at the Swans.
With Paddy and Tom McCartin impressing in Sydney's key defensive roles, Melican has struggled to break into the side since signing that three-year deal in 2020.
Melican is shaping as an ideal option for clubs that are seeking sturdy, tall backmen.
Since being drafted as a rookie at the end of 2014, Melican has played 52 games for the Swans.
FULL STORY: Rival aware of Swans defender's situation
Pies setting sights on Crows swingman
Adelaide Crows defender Billy Frampton, who is uncontracted beyond this season, has begun to develop interest from rival Victorian clubs ahead of the trade period.
He has amassed a versatile 24-game career, being used as a ruckman, key forward and key backman, and it is understood that Collingwood has set its sights firmly on the 200cm-player to load up on their meagre stock of key position players, according to AFL.com.au.
A move to lure Frampton to the Magpies would add intrigue to the future of Brodie Grundy, who is currently contracted at Collingwood until 2027, as he becomes the trade target of several clubs, including Melbourne.
Frampton's six-game 2022 campaign has yielded an average of 13.7 kicks and 4.3 handballs, largely up on his career average, but he has seemingly fallen out of favour at the Crows.
He began his career at cross-town rival Port Adelaide after being drafted in 2014, where he played three games across five seasons. He was then traded to the Crows for a future fourth-round pick, and has played 21 games thus far.
READ MORE: Frampton on Collingwood's radar
Breust gaining attention of rival clubs
Luke Breust's future at Hawthorn remains up in the air despite being contracted for next season, per reports from AFL Media's Callum Twomey.
Despite having a deal with the club for 2023, the two-time All-Australian is reportedly keen to play beyond his 13th season, leading Twomey to speculate that the veteran could be open to extending his career at another club.
“There’s a real watch this space on the Hawks star,” Twomey said to AFL Media.
“Last year he knocked back interest from the Giants in a deadline day decision.
“He is contract for next year, but rivals are aware he is keen to extend his AFL career beyond 2023. That could mean there are clubs who are willing to look at him during this trade period.
“I think other clubs will come knocking this time around.”
The Giants had an interest in Breust during last year's trade period after the veteran was reportedly put on the trade table by the rebuilding Hawks, but remained in brown and gold and continues to serve as a valuable leader on and off the field.
READ MORE: Rivals set to come again for Hawks sharpshooter
Dogs sniffing around unsigned Crow
The Western Bulldogs are reportedly keen on acquiring the services of Adelaide small-forward James Rowe.
Rowe is out-of-contract with the Crows and has been in and out of the side all year, and could be picked up by Western Bulldogs as a delisted free agent if not offered a new contract.
According to SEN SA's Andrew Hayes, the Dogs are ready to come again for the young Crows forward.
"James Rowe is probably not going to get a contract at the Crows, that's the word," Hayes said.
"The Dogs are red hot into him, they were going to draft him, hence why the Crows had to nominate Ugle-Hagan to get rid of most of the Dogs' points.
"But now it looks like they are going to pounce on James Rowe."
Rowe would add to the healthy competition of small forwards at the Bulldogs, with Mitch Wallis, Laitham Vandermeer, Rhylee West, Jason Johannisen and Cody Weightman all competing for a spot in the side.
READ MORE: Rowe linked with Whitten Oval move
Five targets for the Suns
The general feeling around the Suns is that they're on the precipice of something truly great, with a host of their major stars putting pen-to-paper on new deals.
One of the main sore points that will likely develop over the summer is the saga with out-of-contract star Izak Rankine with the 22-year-old looking like he will go back home to Adelaide, specifically the Crows, on a bumper deal.
Injuries to Lachie Weller and Wil Powell and the semi-transition of Jack Lukosius to the forward-line mean that the side's half-back line is in need of some reinforcement with the trade period being the likely window to address this.
Therefore, here are five potential players that the Suns' recruitment team could target over the off-season to propel them up the ladder in 2023.