during the round 18 AFL match between the Essendon Bombers and the Fremantle Dockers at Etihad Stadium on July 21, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia.

Essendon are keen to build on their 2017 trade period, and are once again linked to a big fish.

After landing Jake Stringer, Devon Smith and Adam Saad last season, the Bombers are out to further strengthen their side, with the Herald Sun's Sam Edmund telling SEN the club are in for a big name.

“Your (Tim Watson) club (Essendon) getting linked to a whole heap of players yesterday that has been hard to establish,” Edmund told SEN Breakfast.

“I can’t say because it wouldn’t be fair to just float, it just wouldn’t be.

“Contracted superstar from an interstate club, put it that way.”

The player in question could well be Dylan Shiel, with the star Giant linked to a move back home to Victoria this off-season.

Essendon are believed to be in talks with Shiel, while Carlton also loom as a potential destination for the 25-year-old.