The Western Bulldogs are understood to be "knee deep" into Gold Coast defender Charlie Ballard.
Ballard returned this season after suffering an ACL injury in 2025 and has only featured in six games this season, falling out of favour in Damien Hardwick's side.
Before his injury, Ballard was a mainstay in the Suns' backline, playing 23 games in 2024 and 2023.
Speaking on the Six Points AFL podcast, Mark Stevens has revealed the 27-year-old could be potentially on the move.
“The other ones, Charlie Ballard, now he played on the weekend, key-back, 27-year-old, really good, solid operator, contracted until the end of 2029, been a lot of speculation about the future of him and the fact that he's probably gettable," Stevens said.
Stevens believes the Western Bulldogs could be vying for the defender's services in 2027.
"The Western Bulldogs, I think, are knee-deep in Ballard as well. Just keep an eye on that, that's a watch-and-wait, not saying it's a done deal, but there is potential there for Ballard to come along and Butts.”
"At this stage, just don't count out the Bulldogs, he's obviously not in their best team regularly, he's been in and out, and you'd think he'd be getting itchy feet to go somewhere else, so we'll wait and see on that one and perhaps Ballard to the kennel”.
The Bulldogs are looking to bolster their key defensive stocks, and are considering making a play for Adelaide tall Jordon Butts.
The Whitten Oval club is also hopeful of luring Port Adelaide free agent Zak Butters, while Geelong, Richmond and Collingwood chase his signature.
