Essendon is reportedly getting all its ducks in a row as they prepare a "mega offer" for Brisbane forward and premiership player Zac Bailey.
The freshly minted All-Australian and Lions star is contracted for 2026, when he enters free agency.
The current AFL market has seen the likes of Tom De Koning, Oscar Allen, and Jack Silvagni exercise their rights as free agents, with rivals prepared to pay overs to lure them away from their respective clubs.
Bailey, who is only 25, has largely been placed inside forward 50 throughout his 162 games, but has the capacity to play through the midfield as a burst player, which is something the Bombers desperately need.
AFL Media's Cal Twomey revealed that the Victorian club is arming itself in anticipation of an assault next year.
"Essendon is preparing a mega offer for Zac Bailey," Twomey said on Gettable.
"It'll be six-plus years around the $1.3 million mark across those seasons. It would be the most lucrative contract in Bombers history should he sign it.
"This is around getting the picture that the Bombers are interested. A number of clubs will be chasing him at that sort of rate and value.
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"Brisbane likes to get their free agency deals done early. They'll be pushing to re-sign him as soon as possible."
Ironically, this isn't the first reported potential player switch between the two clubs.
Free agent Sam Draper is currently weighing up a move to Brisbane and Adelaide, and has yet to officially nominate which club he'll depart too.
Essendon defender Jordan Ridley is understood to have requested a trade to the Lions after a string of persistent injuries that have limited his output in recent years.
However, the Bombers are attempting to get one back on the reigning premiers, after they declared interest in free agent Brandon Starcevich, who is also considering a move to Western Australia.
