Overlooked Sydney forward Hayden McLean must be on the radar of rival clubs who need to bolster their front half.
McLean has fallen victim to a forward line squeeze, having been pushed out since Charlie Curnow arrived in the Harbour City last year.
Swans coach Dean Cox has favoured Joel Amartey and Logan McDonald over the contracted tall, while Brodie Grundy had assistance from Peter Ladhams against Brisbane last week.
"It's just a lot of honest conversations throughout the week with 'Coxy'," McLean said last month after his 100th AFL game.
"He's been open with me and honest with me. It's probably one of the hardest decisions he's made.
"To have the four talls this week (against Richmond), to try that, I think it worked.
"It's hard when you're competing with Logan, Joel, Charlie. When you get an opportunity like today, you've just got to try to take it with both hands."
But where does that leave McLean?
The 27-year-old has been in ripping form this year, and his latest performance in the VFL will have list managers and recruiters rushing towards the phone.
McLean bagged six goals in his return to the reserves after a four-week stint in the senior side, taking his tally to 26 majors in eight games. He's also kicked nine goals in four matches for Cox when he's received the opportunity, which is tipped to increase in the wake of Amartey's Achilles injury that will rule him out for 10 weeks.
Before Curnow's arrival, he'd been a regular, playing a minimum of 19 games in the past three years, and featured in both grand final losses against Geelong (2022) ad Brisbane (2024).
But his consistent omission leaves the door ajar for rival clubs to swoop, and there's plenty of destinations that fit the bill.
The Sandringham Dragons product has the lure of returning to Victoria, and should receive interest from Essendon and Collingwood.
The Pies need a mature-age forward after walking premiership tall Brody Mihocek to the door in a bid to welcome former Swan Jack Buller.
However, Craig McRae's forward mix hasn't worked this year, and the loss of Jamie Elliott to a knee injury further emphasised the issues inside 50.
McLean would not only straighten up the club, but also assist Darcy Cameron in the ruck, especially given Oscar Steene is likely to return midway through next year.
Collingwood's interest comes in their hunt for a key forward, and have chased Gold Coast's Ben King, as well as Hawthorn's Mitch Lewis. Both are tipped to bypass the AIA Centre in their decision making.
As for the Bombers, they desperately need experience and Nate Caddy needs help. The Tullamarine club is quite bare in the ruck department, and need an established front half player.
McLean is a one of a number of key forwards that could be jumping on the off-season trade carousel, and you wouldn't blame him for wanting a fresh start.
