The AFL rumour mill can be a vast and taxing part of the competition, admittedly driven by the media, but does it have an impact on a player's performance? Or a club's culture?
Hawthorn premiership player and commentator Jordan Lewis believes speculation regarding a player's future can "destroy the club", and in the case of GWS, the potential departure of Toby Greene may rip the heart out of the orange tsunami.
"A lot has been made about the Gold Coast Suns and the culture and what that is doing. But, the talk around Toby Greene leaving the Giants, I think that destroys the club," Lewis said on Fox Footy.
“You've got this player who, albeit, is not playing at his absolute best — he's the captain. He's the culture, he's the guy that leads from the front; yet he's telling us he potentially wants to go and seek premiership success.
“You look at the list demographic for the Giants, and they look like they're in premiership contention in terms of the talent and all that sort of stuff."
Would this happen all around the competition?
According to Damien Hardwick, Bailey Humphrey is feeling the effects of persistent trade talk, while the uncertain futures of Ben King and Jed Walter, and their reported meeting with rival clubs, have no doubt led to the Suns' four-game losing streak.
"If I'm being honest, yes. Yes,” the three-time premiership coach said of Humphrey amid a form slump last week.
"The pressure on this young lad — and I love this kid, I just spoke to him before — he's such an emotional kid and emotional person. And he genuinely feels like he's letting the side down.
"But when this kid walks out on the field, I feel better about life, our fans feel better about life. I feel it's an unfair thing.
"He had some issues last year that he was looking to go home to sort out some personal business.
"But now, at this stage of his tenure at the moment, he's happy and just wants to play good football. But we're consistently linking his name and social media and these things.
"We talk about the players' health and well-being. We sit there and give it lip service, to be completely honest. We sort of put these players' names in lights.
"And some of it is bought on by self, I understand that, but I think we can do a hell of a lot better than what we're doing and the way we're doing it at the moment."
Even Collingwood coach Craig McRae alluded to the pressure felt by speedster and defensive dynamo Beau McCreery, who has been targeted by the incoming Tasmania Devils as a top priority.
McCreery never stuffed the stat sheet, but in the win over Port Adelaide, he struggled to make a meaningful impact, recording nine touches and a solitary tackle, which is historically a strong indicator of how he's playing.
"It's an interesting one with Beau. He was a little bit off," McRae said post-game.
"We're trying in-game for him to do some things. We've got to get to work with Beau. His best is better than what he's producing. But we can't leave him on an island to work that out.
"I don't know (if the trade speculation is impacting his form). You'd have to ask him about outside interest.
"He's too important to us not to be playing at his best."
Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge was forced to answer chatter about Tim English's future as well as Port Adelaide's Zak Butters. Hawthorn's Sam Mitchell attempted to distance himself from any Zach Merrett talk.
Trade speculation has become a sport within the sport.
And while it may be an unavoidable part of the industry, trade speculation undoubtedly affects the player, coach and club involved.
