A quartet of clubs have been linked to Brisbane free agent Daniel McStay, who is understood to be on the receiving end of a substantial five-year deal from a rival side.

McStay looms as a headline for this year's off-season exchange period, continuing to gain reported interest from his home state of Victoria as his current deal with the Lions draws to a close.

The 26-year-old has found a new level in his game this season, at times stepping up in the absence of first and second-string key forwards Joe Daniher and Eric Hipwood.

McStay has booted 14 goals from 10 appearances in 2022, earning plaudits as a formidable key forward asset to the Lions in his ninth season in Queensland.

A number of clubs are expected to pursue key-position forwards this off-season, with no free agent seemingly more enticing than McStay.

According to Triple M's Jay Clark, the Demons, Magpies, Bulldogs and Dockers could be among the clubs showing interest in McStay.

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Collingwood have already been linked to the Vermont product, with the Victorian powerhouse club in need of adding to their tall attacking stocks for the future.

Speaking on Rush Hour, Clark detailed that the interest has "spooked" the Lions, with a $3 million deal on the table from one keen rival.

"We're looking squarely at Collingwood, Melbourne, the Western Bulldogs, even Fremantle," Clark said this week. "Brisbane has been spooked by the interest.

“Maybe they misread the play six months ago, because there was only a three-year deal on the table initially... now they’ve gone to a five-year deal.

“However, I think that there is a $600,000, five-year deal on the table for Dan McStay to leave."

McStay will bring up game 150 for the Lions on Saturday as Brisbane welcomes St Kilda to the Gabba, with the three-pronged attack of McStay, Daniher and Hipwood set to feature for the first time this year.