North Melbourne and Hawthorn are said to be among the rival clubs showing some level of interest in contracted Carlton forward Zac Fisher.
Fisher's name has emerged among trade murmurs this year given his limited opportunities at Princes Park this season, with the 25-year-old managing just eight matches under Michael Voss amid ongoing battles with form and injury.
Contracted until the end of 2025, Fisher has been floated as a potential target for clubs from Western Australia given his roots in WA, however interest from West Coast is understood to have cooled in recent weeks.
Interest in Fisher is now expected to come from Victorian clubs, who will circle the midfield-forward hybrid as the Blues weigh up the futures of several senior names.
According to The Herald Sun, Fisher is understood to have interest from as many as three close rivals, with the Kangaroos and Hawks among the club expressing some level of intrigue into the Blues forward's situation.
Despite being contracted, the Blues could part with Fisher for a lower return than expected as the club hopes to retain emerging tall Tom De Koning beyond 2023. That could lead to an increase in offers for Fisher, with both Hawthorn and North Melbourne needing to fill in more positions across their forward thirds amid ongoing rebuilds.
The Hawks could see Fisher as a viable replacement for off-contract veteran Chad Wingard, whose future remains unclear at Waverley. Hawthorn could also lose young small forward Tyler Brockman, who is said to be weighing up his future and is without a deal for 2024.
North Melbourne have looked to bolster their small forward options in recent windows, adding Harry Sheezel through last year's National Draft and recruiting Robert Hansen in May's mid-season intake.
Sheezel has been deployed as a running defender in his first season and could be called on for midfield action ahead of time in the forward half.
Wanting to find small forwards to complement the likes of Cameron Zurhaar and Nick Larkey in attack, Fisher could be an ideal and cheaper ready-made target for the Roos to consider.
On the flipside, Carlton could also be willing to part with Fisher given their rumoured interest in St Kilda attacker Jade Gresham this season. Gresham is a restricted free agent and wouldn't cost the Blues any draft capital if the Saints decide not to match any bid for their unsigned midfield-forward.
