Melbourne has emerged as the favorites to land North Melbourne's Ben Brown.
AFL Media's Damian Barrett reports the Demons have moved ahead of St Kilda in the race to sign the key forward to play alongside youngsters Sam Weideman and Luke Jackson.
A deal for Brown would raise uncertainty around the future of Tom McDonald.
The 28-year-old is contracted until the end of 2022 but has failed to regain the form that saw him kick 53 goals in 2018 and has only kicked 25 goals in the last two seasons.
Brown kicked eight goals in nine games this season but booted at least 60 goals in the previous three years.
The key forward has been heavily linked to St Kilda and Collingwood since it was announced he was free to leave the Kangaroos.
