The past week has seen several big names looped into the player market frenzy, while highly-anticipated deals look to be gaining momentum.

Port Adelaide and Essendon are among the clubs that have been heavily involved in trade news and speculation in recent days, while the Hawks, Magpies and Blues will be hoping rumours swirling on their respective stars don't come to fruition.

Here's a trade news wrap for all the latest from the AFL rumour mill...

De Goey on Bombers' radar

Essendon are understood to have sparked interest in Collingwood free agent Jordan De Goey over a potential move for the Magpies midfielder.

Having lost Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti and Devon Smith this year to retirement, the Dons have looked to find a new spark in attack, and De Goey might be their man.

According to The Herald Sun, Essendon have begun their drive to pry De Goey out of Collingwood, even relying on members of their playing group to present to the 26-year-old.

De Goey has garnered reported interest from St Kilda and Geelong this year as he assesses his free agency options, with Collingwood a strong chance to retain their star man.

Jordan De Goey during the 2022 AFL Round 1 match between St Kilda and Collingwood (Photo by Cameron Grimes / Zero Digital Media)

A call on his future is unlikely to come until after his side's finals series is completed, with a deep enough run for the Magpies potentially aiding the Bombers as they look to find their next coach.

READ MORE: Essendon set sights on Magpies star 

Mitchell bombshell as star midfielder ponders move, Pies monitoring situation 

Hawthorn midfielder Tom Mitchell has stunningly been linked to the exit at Hawthorn, with Collingwood understood to be monitoring the Brownlow Medal winner's situation.

Mitchell is contracted to the Hawks until the end of next year, with Hawthorn "aware" of his potential desire to depart the club which he joined from Sydney at the end of 2016.

According to 7 News' Mitch Cleary, Mitchell is the one leading the potential split from the club, with the Hawks previously reported to be keen to part services with their star onballer.

The Hawks are "happy to accommodate a trade" according to Cleary's report, with the Magpies aware of the 29-year-old's situation.

Collingwood are already in for a busy off-season, with Lion Daniel McStay, Giant Bobby Hill and Crow Billy Frampton already linked to the club, while the futures of Jordan De Goey and Brodie Grundy are unclear beyond this year.

The Magpies are reportedly set to monitor Mitchell, however raised interest is yet to be made public.

FULL STORY: Hawks gun considering joining third club 

Coleman Medal winner linked to Bombers

Essendon are keeping an eye on star forward Harry McKay's contract talks with Carlton, keen to lure the Coleman Medallist to Tullamarine, per reports from the Herald Sun.

McKay is contracted to Carlton until the conclusion of the 2023 season and is reportedly in preliminary contract talks to remain at Ikon Park for the long-term, yet several clubs are keen to snag the services of the gun forward.

While the Bombers were also reportedly interested in teammate Charlie Curnow prior to his re-signing, they have turned their attention towards McKay, with North Melbourne also keeping an eye on the situation.

Both clubs have the funds needed to lure the big name away from the Blues, though the Herald Sun reports that Carlton are confident they'll be able to retain their forward gun.

McKay's current contract runs through to the conclusion of 2023, though the Blues are reportedly confident he will sign a new deal, akin to that of Curnow, prior to the first bounce of the 2023 season.

READ MORE: McKay gaining interest from Bombers and Roos

Dogs pair weighing up rival interest 

The Bulldogs could lose two key members of their squad this off-season, with a "watch this space" put on out-of-contract pair Josh Dunkley and Jason Johannisen.

With his contract now reaching its cessation, rival clubs - including Essendon - have emerged as keen suitors in the Dunkley's services.

Port Adelaide and Brisbane have also been linked to the 25-year-old, with the former expected to meet with Dunkley in the coming weeks, according to 7 News' Mitch Cleary.

Josh Dunkley and Bailey Smith during the 2022 AFL Round 1 match between Melbourne and Western Bulldogs (Photo by Cameron Grimes / Zero Digital Media)

"He's put his talks on hold for much of the season. It's going to be crunch time now for Josh Dunkley," Cleary said after Saturday's elimination final.

"I expect him to meet Port Adelaide in the next week or so as he weighs up his future."

Cleary also noted the Gold Coast Suns have reportedly tabled a deal to Johannisen.

FULL STORY: "Watch this space" on Dogs duo  

Tigers set to secure gun Giant on long-term deal 

Hybrid threat Tim Taranto is set to end his tenure as a Giant after six seasons following reports that the 24-year-old will request a trade to Tigerland as early as next week.

As first reported by SEN's Sam Edmund, the former top-three draft draftee will land at Punt Road despite the best efforts of Giants powerbrokers to keep him at Tom Wills Oval.

Speaking on Saturday afternoon, Edmund divulged that Richmond had edged out Collingwood in the race for the Sandringham Dragons product.

“My expectation is (Taranto) is going to be a put a trade request in to Richmond in the coming days,” Edmund said in the hours before Collingwood's qualifying final clash with the Cats.

“Now the Tigers are out of the finals race, my expectation is this is going to happen very soon."

Secondary reports from Jon Ralph of The Herald Sun claim that the Tigers' seven-year, $750,000 per season offer comprehensively dwarfed the Giants' respective deal.

FULL STORY: Taranto to become a Tiger

Lions outed as race leaders for returning ex-Bomber

Chris Fagan's Brisbane side have emerged as the favourites to lure former Essendon halfback Conor McKenna back to AFL after two years out of the sport.

The 26-year-old signalled his intent to return to Australia after moving back home to Ireland in 2020 due to homesickness, plying his trade in Gaelic football with boyhood club Tyrone.

However, the 26-year-old won't be going back to The Hangar on his arrival back down under, with the Lions reportedly the front runners according to The Herald Sun's Jay Clark.

With Daniel Rich being 32 years of age, a replacement for the reliable defender could very well be the Irishman, with McKenna's run off halfback a big asset for Brisbane as they look to keep going at the top-end of the ladder.

Essendon Bombers Training Session
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 19: Conor McKenna of the Bombers in action during the Essendon Bombers training session at The Hangar on March 19, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Prior to his departure back home, McKenna was a big part of Essendon's setup for the four seasons before he decided to head back home.

READ MORE: Brisbane front-runner for McKenna

Don set to request move, wingman of interest to rivals

Essendon swingman Aaron Francis is understood to be wanting to depart the Bombers through a trade this off-season, while teammate Brayden Ham has reportedly met with two Victorian clubs over his future.

The duo are both yet to be re-signed by the Dons for 2023, however survived the club's first wave of delistings just days after their campaign concluded with the home and away season.

After only 54 games in the red sash, Francis is hoping to find a new club for 2023, according to AFL.com.au, while Ham is understood to have met with a pair of Victorian clubs as he assesses his options beyond this year.

Like Francis, the young wingman wasn't able to hold down a role at AFL level for a majority of the season and was consistently in and out of the club's selection planning, while also being named medical sub on five occasions.

FULL STORY: Future of Bombers pair up in the air 

Geelong, Port out of Grundy race

The race for Magpies ruckman Brodie Grundy looks to have narrowed, with Geelong and Port Adelaide having reportedly gone cold on the two-time best and fairest winner.

After it was revealed Grundy wasn't looking to depart the state, rumoured clubs of interest in Port Adelaide and GWS saw their chances dashed, leaving the Cats, Demons and Hawks to be considering a move for the ruckman's signature.

With Rhys Stanley and Jonathon Ceglar in the twilight of their careers, and youngster Toby Conway still underdeveloped with no senior games to his name, the Cats emerged as a potential buyer for Grundy, who has begun assessing his options beyond this year.

However, according to News Corp, Geelong have pulled themselves out of the race for the South Australian big man, opting in favour of Stanley and Ceglar for the final years of their respective deals for 2023.

Their decision means Melbourne's place in leading the pack for Grundy has strengthened, while the Hawks' interest hasn't been as explicit as their fellow Victorian rivals.

FULL STORY: Race for Magpies ruckman narrows

Bombers set to miss out on North target

North Melbourne's Cameron Zurhaar is understood to have agreed to a new two-year deal to remain at Arden Street until the end of 2024, turning his back on reported interest from Essendon.

The Western Australian has developed into an integral retention target for North Melbourne, striking a welcomed run of form across the 2022 season to boot 34 goals from his 19 appearances.

HOBART, AUSTRALIA - MAY 14: Cameron Zurhaar of the Kangaroos is seen with Josh Walker of the Kangaroos and John Blakey, Senior Assistant Coach of the Kangaroos during the 2022 AFL Round 09 match between the North Melbourne Kangaroos and the Port Adelaide Power at Blundstone Arena on May 14, 2022 in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Clarkson's recent arrival as senior coach was sure to sway Zurhaar in favour of remaining in the blue and white, with 7 News' Mitch Cleary revealing on Friday afternoon that the medium-sized forward will pen a new multi-year deal.

Pending "finishing touches" on his next contract, Zurhaar and the Roos are set to extend their partnership for a further two seasons, taking the former to his seventh and eighth seasons at the club.

With Zurhaar's signature reportedly secured, the Roos will turn their attention to hopefully retaining the likes of Aaron Hall, Curtis Taylor, Bailey Scott and Todd Goldstein, who are all yet to recommit beyond this year.

FULL STORY: Zurhaar on verge of inking new deal

Dockers tall latest in Roos' sights

Out-of-contract Fremantle defender Griffin Logue is the latest off-season target understood to be in the sights of North Melbourne ahead of the sign and trade period, with newly-appointed coach Alastair Clarkson looking to bolster his fledgling list.

Since the Clarkson era at Arden Street began, a bevy of rival players have been tied to the blue and white, with a number of the master coach's ex-Hawthorn talent among those believed to be weighing up a potential reunion with their former coach.

Contracted Saint Bradley Hill is believed to be considering his future amid the Roos' attempts to pry the midfielder out of Moorabbin, while the likes of Jack Gunston, Luke Breust and recently departed Hawk Liam Shiels have also been mentioned as potential targets.

Hill's teammate in Ben Long, West Coast forward Junior Rioli and young Giants midfielder Tanner Bruhn have also been reported to be of interest to North Melbourne as they look to lift themselves off the 18th rung for 2023.

Now, according to AFL.com.au, Logue is also on the Roos' radar as they plan to bolster their key defensive stocks.

Logue has garnered reported interest from Sydney, Collingwood, Essendon, Richmond and Carlton this year, while the Western Bulldogs are likely to be on the lookout for a key defender.

READ MORE: Logue among several targets for Roos

Rioli mulling Port move

West Coast forward Junior Rioli is reportedly very open to accepting a lucrative, multi-year deal from Port Adelaide, per reports from Nine’s Corey Norris.

Rioli, who is not contracted beyond 2022, is reportedly weighing up a potential move to South Australia, set to have a medical at the Power in the next week.

“The Power have slapped a multi-year offer in front of him, one that’s very, very attractive,” Norris said.

“And if West Coast doesn’t match it, and it’s becoming increasingly unlikely that they will, then the out-of-contract 27-year-old is almost certain to request a trade to the Power.

“It’s understood Rioli is very open to moving back to Adelaide where he was drafted from back in 2016, when he was playing with Glenelg.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 18: Willie Rioli of the Eagles celebrates after scoring a goal during the round 22 AFL match between the Richmond Tigers and the West Coast Eagles at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on August 18, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

“The Power are desperate to replenish their small forward stocks given that retirement of Robbie Gray, they believe Rioli can help fill that void.”

FULL STORY: Eagle tempted by Power offer

Murphy urges young Blue to move on

Fringe Carlton midfielder Paddy Dow has been urged to assess his options this off-season by former captain Marc Murphy, with the former first-round draft selection unable to cement this place in Michael Voss' side this season.

Dow has gained reported interest from rival clubs despite his contract not ending until the conclusion of next year, with the likes of Richmond and Geelong linked to the 22-year-old.

The arrivals of George Hewett and Adam Cerra, coupled with Matt Kennedy's career-best campaign, have left Dow on the outer of selection in 2022.

After 63 games in five seasons, Dow has now been urged to consider departing Ikon Park ahead of next year, with his former skipper in Murphy backing a move.

“I was just surprised he didn’t get much of a look in at Carlton (this year)," Murphy told ABC Radio. 

“I feel he adds something a bit to them in terms of his leg speed and burst.

“He’s always had a bit of a knock on his disposal but I’m just more thinking for him he needs to explore another opportunity and try and resurrect an AFL career, which has kind of just stalled at the moment."

READ: Carlton great backs young midfielder to find new home

Young ruck seen as potential target

Port Adelaide youngster Sam Hayes is reportedly another ruck target that is set to go on the market come trade period 2022.

The 23-year-old big man is one of many ruckmen that could make a switch this off-season, despite only playing seven games for Ken Hinkley's Power outfit.

According to Cal Twomey of AFL.com.au, although Hayes is still contracted for 2023 rival clubs will still be sniffing around the big man as another off-season of ruck movement seems on the cards.

As of yet, there have been no explicit suitors for the 23-year-old, however considering his place in the pecking order it might be wise for the big man to look elsewhere for football considering he is effectively fourth in the queue at Alberton.

Throw in the fact that outcast Pie Brodie Grundy was the subject of interest from the Power until very recently, it's clear that Hayes might be surplus to requirements in Ken Hinkley's plan.

STORY: Hayes reportedly on trade tableÂ