The Jesse Hogan rumour mill keeps on spinning, with The Australian reporting that Hogan may be dealt to Fremantle in exchange for a draft pick that allows Melbourne to acquire Steven May from Gold Coast.
After West Coast manipulated Melbourne's defence with ease, and Jake Lever's return from a knee reconstruction looking like the only major change to occur in the back six, May would offer a level of tenacity as a defender that Melbourne cannot offer with its current roster.
Victorian clubs Collingwood and Hawthorn are also heavily interested in acquiring May, but the early draft pick Melbourne should receive for Hogan if he is dealt, would likely be the factor that sends May to the Demons.
As for Hogan, the stories that link him with a return home to Western Australia keep emerging, as Fremantle desperately searches for its first answer to a main forward target since Matthew Pavlich retired.
The Cam McCarthy experiment has failed so far, and with the likely trade of Lachie Neale to Brisbane, Fremantle may be able to tempt Melbourne into a deal that could deal one of the best key forwards in the game for the chance to sign one of the best defenders.
With Tom Lynch a near-certainty to sign with Richmond, it appears as though Gold Coast will lose its two co-captains, only adding to the mass exodus of players from the failing Suns organisation.