As we take another step closer to silly season, the AFL trade news and rumours continue to arise across the league's landscape.
The past week has seen arguably the most entertaining report of all, with Swans stat Lance Franklin linked to a move north.
The Suns and Bombers are also busy as we near the off-season, while we look at potential targets for the Hawks ahead of next year.
Here's your AFL trade news and rumours update...
Buddy hits pause on contract talks in wake of Lions link
Swansย starย Lance Franklin has stated he is currently undecided on his playing future and will need time after the season to confirm whether he continues in the game.
Franklin was subject to reports earlier this week that suggested the 35-year-old had notified theย Swansย of his decision to depart the club at season's end in favour of a move to theย Brisbane Lions.
Theย Swans and Lions have both refuted the report, with speculation around Franklin's future only growing in recent days.
A statement released through his manager Adam Finch detailed that contract talks have been halted ahead of the off-season, viaย AFL Media'sย Cal Twomey.
โAt this stage conversations have been paused around my contract so I can put all my focus on playing footy. No further comment will be made until the season is done & I have decided about my future," the statement reads.
โI am still undecided and need time after the season to make a family decision about whether I continue to play next year.โ
Links connecting Franklin to the Lions came after he and his partner Jesinta bought a house in Queensland, hoping to be closer to family on theย Gold Coast.
DETAILS: Franklin breaks silence following bombshell Brisbane reportย
Suns chasing Essendon skipper Dyson Heppellย
Theย Gold Coastย Suns are reportedly "in the mix" forย Essendonย captainย Dyson Heppell, who is yet to recommit to the Bombers beyond this year.
Heppell's future has been speculated this past month amid contract uncertainty for the 30-year-old, who is understood to have only recently been tabled a one-year extension.
Now, according toย RSN'sย Mark Stevens, the Suns have seemingly thrown their hat into the ring for Heppell's services, with a potentially longer deal on the cards.
"There's been speculation about other clubs, my sources are sayingย Gold Coastย are firmly in the mix forย Dyson Heppell," Stevens toldย RSN Breakfast Club.ย
Heppell has played 210 games for the Bombers since making his debut in 2011, a year he won the Rising Star Award.
FULL STORY: Suns in the mix to sign Bombers skipper
Dockers reportedly showing interest in Crows forward
Off-contract Crows forwardย Elliott Himmelbergย is reportedly on the radar of theย Fremantleย Dockers, who are looking to bolster their attack this off-season.
The emergence ofย Darcy Fogarty, coupled with veteranย Taylor Walker's strong run of form across the past two seasons, has limited Himmelberg's minutes.
The situation could open interest from rival clubs, with the Dockers already tipped to be showing some level of interest in the Redland product.
According toย SEN SA'sย Michelangelo Rucci,ย Fremantleย have identified Himmelberg as a potential target to sharpen their speartip.
READ: Fremantle linked to out-of-contract Crow
Port keeping tabs on Grundy situation
Portย Adelaideย are understood to be keeping tabs on contractedย Collingwoodย ruckmanย Brodie Grundy's situation ahead of the off-season, however "don't see" the Magpies star leaving Victoria at season's end.
Reports have speculated that Grundy firms as a chance to depart Olympic Park this year, despite currently being tied toย Collingwoodย until the end of the 2027 season.
The situation has continued to be met with external conjecture, with Grundy's name again tied to another rival club.
According toย 7 News'ย Tom Browne, the Power are keeping notice of the situation that surrounds the South Australian.
โPortย Adelaideย is interested in where Grundy is going to end up and his trade status at the end of the year,โ Browne said on Wednesday night.
FULL STORY: Grundy linked with Port Adelaide
Eagle yet to make call on future
Premiership-winning Eagleย Willie Rioliย is yet to put pen to paper to remain in blue and gold, with recent reports suggesting the forward could be set to fly the nest at season's end.
Having walked through the doors at Lathlain after being plucked with the 52nd pick of the 2016 National Draft, the 27-year-old has weathered both highs and lows, including serving a two-year drug ban and further charges in April of last year.
Although reports fromย AFL Mediaย claim that Rioli has been "presented a multi-year deal" to remain in the west, the small-forward is still mulling up his options before the cessation ofย West Coast's current campaign.
While no specific suitors have been listed as of yet, givenย Essendon's desire to chase small-forward optionsย Malcolm Rosas,ย Bobby Hill,ย Izak Rankineย andย Toby Bedfordย across the course of the past 12 months, Rioli's skillset more than befits the Bombers' recruitment strategy.
READ MORE: Rioli attracting attention with decision loomingย ย
Crows reportedly up ante in chase for gun Sun
A $4 million offer to return home is understood to haveย Gold Coastย forwardย Izak Rankineย heavily contemplating a move toย Adelaideย at season's end.
The South Australian goalsneak was tipped to be a near certainty to follow in the footsteps of his fellow 2018 first-round selections and re-sign with the Suns, however increased interest from rival clubs looks to have shaken the situation.
Now, according toย SEN'sย Sam Edmund, the Crows are forking up an equally significant offer that could tempt Rankine to return to his home state.
A five-year, $800,000-per-season deal has reportedly been floated, seeing Rankine's chances of re-signing with Gold Coast plummet.
FULL STORY: Adelaide grow stronger in Rankine tug-of-war
Can St Kilda afford to roll dice on De Goey?ย
St Kilda are reported to be interested in Collingwood free agent Jordan De Goey, but does the controversial Magpies star add to what the Saints are building at Moorabbin?
We assess the for and against of St Kilda signing De Goey at season's end, and how the move could play out.
READ: Heaven or Hell? Can St Kilda afford to roll the dice on De Goey?
Rivals reportedly showing interest in young Port utility
Victorian clubs are reportedly circling contractedย Portย Adelaide player Miles Bergman, potentially looking to pry the 20-year-old back to his home state.
Bergman is averaging 16.71 disposals, 2.43 tackles and 2.29 inside 50s from seven matches this year, showing an ability to play across all three lines of the field as a versatile asset for his side.
His services could be of great use for several keen suitors, with clubs from the east understood to be showing interest in Bergman.
According toย SEN SAย reporter Michaelangelo Rucci, multiple Victorian clubs are anticipated to move for Bergman this off-season.
โMiles Bergmanย is under contract until 2023, the end of next season. But he has - what Iโve been told - fair interest from a few Victorian clubs to lure him back toย Melbourne," Rucci said.
FULL STORY: Bergman gaining interest from the east
Five off-season targets for Hawthorn
There has been plenty to like about this Hawks side despite sitting in 13th, with the rise of Mitch Lewis andย Dylan Mooreย particular highlights, while the sensational return ofย James Sicilyย in defence has put him in All-Australian conversations.
They are a young, exciting team that is destined to go places in years to come should they develop like many are predicting and will have their eye on returning to the finals yet again in 2023.
While they'll have plenty of players in mind, the Hawks would also be pretty keen to target other clubs' draft equity to continue blooding hidden gems in coming seasons.
in no particular order, we've listed five players the Hawks could target this off-season heading into 2023, including a Port Free agent and a Lions duo.
