MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 04: Tom Hickey of the Saints leaves the field injured during the round 20 AFL match between the St Kilda Saints and the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on August 4, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

West Coast have begun preparing for life after Scott Lycett by conducting a medical with St Kilda ruckman Tom Hickey.

Mitch Cleary from AFL.com.au reports the ruckman completed a medical with the Eagles and has been offered a multi-year deal.

The Eagles are searching for a replacement for Scott Lycett who is expected to move to Port Adelaide during the trade period.

West Coast have also met with Western Bulldogs free agent Jordan Roughead in recent weeks, but now appear to be interested in Hickey.

Hickey will compete with Nick Naitanui and Nathan Vardy for a place in the senior side if he is at the Eagles next season.

Naitanui is set to miss the 2019 season as he continues to recover from an ACL injury, meaning Hickey could be given plenty of game time.

The Eagles prefer to play with two ruckman and have used Lycett and Vardy as a duo since Naitanui suffered a season-ending ACL injury in round 17.

Hickey remains contracted to St Kilda for 2019, but is believed to be interested in a move to revitalise his career.

The 27-year-old played 13 games this season and 79 in his eight year career.

Hickey was originally recruited by the Gold Coast Suns and moved to the Saints in 2013.

Hickey is one of a number of ruckman on the move during the off-season.

Zac Smith (Geelong), Tom Nicholls (Gold Coast) and Braydon Preuss (North Melbourne) are all contracted for 2019 but appear to be looking for new homes.

Other ruckman without deals for 2019 include Matthew Leuenberger (Essendon), Ivan Soldo (Richmond) and Tom Campbell (Western Bulldogs).