Essendon are understood to have "made official enquiries" for out-of-contract St Kilda star Rowan Marshall.
The Bombers have been at the centre of the AFL trade rumour mill the past week, with Hawthorn reportedly setting their sights on midfielder Kyle Langford - while the futures of Andrew McGrath and Dylan Shiel have also been speculated upon.
This time, however, the subject of the latest trade story surrounds a potential target for Essendon, with the club looking to bolster its key-position stocks.
According to 7 News' Tom Browne, the Bombers are potentially looking to pry Marshall from Moorabbin at season's end.
“This is ambitious, a little trade war between the Saints and the Bombers,” Browne reported on Wednesday.
“Essendon has made official enquiries on Saints ruckman Rowan Marshall. Marshall is out-of-contract, Essendon have a lot of salary cap space. They could offer big money.
“They also need another ruckman and key forward. It is a Bombers’ priority at the moment.”
7NEWS can reveal Essendon has made an audacious bid to lure Saints star Rowan Marshall. Chief Football Reporter @TomBrowne7 with the details. https://t.co/5zYfOfGqUb @7AFL #7AFL #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/pYNwqgBOtX
— 7NEWS Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) May 4, 2022
A move for Marshall would most likely see the versatile Saint compliment first-string Bombers ruckman Sam Draper, who has ironically been a reported target for the Saints in the past.
Marshall would likely be utilised in a similar role to what he currently holds with St Kilda, playing as a forward target while sharing the ruck workload with veteran Paddy Ryder.
Browne's report suggests Marshall is currently happy with at St Kilda, despite being unsigned past 2022.
Marshall has played 71 games for the Saints since making his debut in 2017.
