MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 15: Tom McDonald of the Demons handballs during a Melbourne Demons AFL training session at Gosch's Paddock on May 15, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Collingwood are the frontrunners to land out-of-favour Demon Tom McDonald, according to SEN's Sam Edmund.

The Magpies face a defining off-season, with Brody Mihocek and Jordan De Goey both unsigned for 2021, while Adam Treloar, Tom Phillips and Mason Cox have all been linked to trade talks.

Despite managing a tight salary cap, Magpies coach Nathan Buckley declared the club would be 'aggressive' during the trade period.

According to Edmund, they're eyeing McDonald to play as as a defender.

“The other name that has come up to Collingwood is Tom McDonald," Edmund said on SEN Breakfast.

“Two years on a contract to run at Melbourne at around $600,000, that deal he signed at the peak of his powers in 2018.

“Melbourne are looking to move him on. I think Collingwood are the real front runners to snare Tom McDonald. How they make that happen will be interesting.

“They’d play him down back. I think Jordan Roughead, they probably see the writing on the wall as he’s closer to the end. They want to play Tommy Mac in defence.”

McDonald struggled for senior opportunities in Simon Goodwin’s side in 2020 after failing two impress as a key forward, playing just nine AFL games.

Contracted until the end of 2022, the Demons are reportedly open to moving him.

Kangaroos forward Ben Brown has nominated Melbourne as his preferred trade destination, making McDonald even more expendable.

The AFL trade period runs from November 4-12.