Collingwood are said to be interested in Adelaide free agent Tom Doedee as they prepare for life after Jeremy Howe.
Doedee has garnered reported interest from Brisbane in recent months, while the defender's negotiations with the Crows hit a wall due to an underwhelming offer from Adelaide.
The Lions are understood to have a significant offer on the table for Doedee, who is one of just three restricted free agents still unsigned for 2024, alongside St Kilda's Jade Gresham and North Melbourne's Ben McKay.
McKay firms as a player likely to find a new home this off-season as part of a busy trade period for tall defenders - a market that includes Doedee.
The Lions' interest comes amid the loss of Marcus Adams to retirement due to ongoing concussion issues, with Doedee viewed as a formidable option to work alongside Harris Andrews and Jack Payne on Chris Fagan's last line.
Doedee himself will likely be sidelined for the opening half of the 2024 season after suffering an ACL injury in June, with his lengthy setback likely to have an influence on the levels of external interest.
According to AFL reporter Mitch Cleary, the Magpies are one club that has Doedee on their radar, with the minor premiers potentially viewing the 26-year-old as a viable replacement for veteran backman Jeremy Howe.
Howe will be 34 years of age midway through next season in what is the final year of his contract at Olympic Park.
"Tom Doedee is still yet to have any significant movement on his situation as a restricted free agent. I think deep down he does want to stay at Adelaide," Cleary told the Tradies Podcast.
"He's met with Brisbane. I don't think the meeting with clubs for Tom Doedee is over. I don't know specifically where that is.
"I know Collingwood has got interest in Tom Doedee for life after Jeremy Howe in defence. Jeremy Howe is 34 next year. Tom Doedee will miss the first half of next year.
"There's a bit still to play out with Tom Doedee at the moment. I reckon we might learn more when Brisbane fall out (of the premiership race), whether that's prelim or grand final week."
Doedee has played 82 games for the Crows over six seasons at West Lakes, with this year's ACL setback the second of his career.
The Victorian backman has finished in the top 10 for Adelaide's best and fairest count in all of his three full seasons at AFL level, finishing sixth in his debut year of 2018 before recording fourth and eighth-placed finishes in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Doedee's services could help extend Collingwood's rearguard dominance for the years to come, with captain Darcy Moore, All-Australian defender Brayden Maynard, small backman Isaac Quaynor and lockdown option Nathan Murphy all 27 years of age or under.
The Magpies will begin to plan for life after several of their more senior figures across the next 12 months, with all of Howe, Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom and Taylor Adams off-contract in 2024.
