The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs.

Will the Lions bring Charlie home?

Dynamo forward Charlie Cameron has rocked the Crows with a request to be traded to 2017's wooden-spooners, the Brisbane Lions.

It's another serious blow to Adelaide, coming only two days after All Australian nominee Jake Lever nominated the Demons as his preferred club.

Why Cameron wants to leave: It's a simple case of family over football. He's Mt Isa born and wants the move to be closer to relatives in Queensland.

One big question: Will Adelaide let him go? 

  • Cameron is 23, has just played the season of his life, and has a year to run on his contract. The Crows have also been adamant to date that they expect the speedster to honour that deal.
  • Adelaide will have to decide whether it's worth keeping an unsettled Cameron around, but equally the Lions know they'll have to pay 'overs' to convince the Crows to release a contracted player.

Fortunately for the Lions, they have a strong draft hand to tempt the Crows with:

  • Firstly, they have a second first-round pick, No.12 overall, gained in a trade with Port Adelaide last year. This will probably be off limits, but it wouldn't surprise if it's Adelaide's opening asking price. 
  • Brisbane also has pick No.18 and should add No.19 via free agency compensation when Tom Rockliff's upcoming move to Port Adelaide is finalised. One of these picks, most likely the first, could ultimately be enough to change Adelaide's stance on Cameron. 

Remember: the Crows also have a draft bounty coming from the Demons for Lever. They've already rejected Melbourne's initial offer of picks No.10 and 27 in the hope of netting No.10 and the Demons' 2018 first-round pick.

If both trades go through, the Crows would have an arsenal of draft picks they could use to target contracted players.

Bryce Gibbs, anyone?

It begins ...

After what feels like weeks of frenzied manoeuvering by players, clubs and agents, it looks like being one out and one, possibly two, in at Alberton when the NAB AFL Free Agency Period finally opens on Friday.

Port Adelaide will table an offer for Lions midfielder Tom Rockliff expected to be worth about $700,000 a year. Meanwhile the Bulldogs will move for Power tall Jackson Trengove with a four-year offer believed to be worth close to $2 million.

Both are restricted free agents, meaning the Lions and Power can theoretically match any offer. But neither club will seriously consider that approach.

What happens next?

  • The Lions will take their compensation pick, likely to be pick No.18
  • However by acquiring Rockliff Port will forfeit their right to any compensation. For the Power, Trengove's departure creates cap space for them to claim Rockliff and other free agency/trade targets. 

Which other free agents are in play?.

  • Port is also expected to sign Steven Motlop, possibly also on Friday. However, the Geelong speedster has attracted some late interest from Gold Coast and Adelaide, so his future might not be decided until next week. 

  • Fellow Cat Daniel Menzel appears to be on the move too, with Fremantle considered his most likely destination, although an offer is unlikely to tabled until later in the free agency period. 

  • Veteran defender Scott Thompson is considering a new one-year contract offer from North Melbourne.

  • Hawthorn premiership defender Taylor Duryea heads the list of remaining free agents, who include Claye Beams (Brisbane Lions), Simon White (Carlton), Lachlan Keeffe, Ben Sinclair (Collingwood), Ben Howlett (Essendon), Zac Clarke and Nick Suban (Fremantle).

The arrivals lounge is getting crowded at Tullamarine

We still have three days before Trade Period itself opens on Monday, but two wantaway players have already nominated Essendon as their club of choice.

GWS forward Devon Smith has turned down interest from Carlton, Collingwood and others, and informed the Giants Tullamarine is his preferred destination.

Also on Thursday, Gold Coast rebounder Adam Saad told the Suns he wanted a trade move to the Bombers.

And there's a third to come, with contracted Bulldog Jake Stringer also expected to confirm he wants to head to Essendon

What they'll bring to the Bombers

  • Smith finished runner-up in the 2014 best and fairest and has the potential to be a star if he can stay fit. A livewire forward, he would hope to play more midfield minutes at the Bombers. 
  • Saad will give the Dons the dash off half-back they need if Andy McGrath moves to a wing. He'll also be an ideal replacement back there for retired defender James Kelly.
  • Stringer has endless potential, with his explosive attributes making him a nightmare match-up in the forward line and a pinch-hitting option in the midfield. The Bombers would back themselves to help him rediscover his All-Australian form of 2015 

Why it gets complicated

  • The Bulldogs want the Bombers' only first-round pick – No.11 – for Stringer and are threatening to hold onto the contracted forward if they aren't satisfied with a trade
  • Essendon does not appear willing to part with its first pick without receiving something in return alongside Stringer
  • The Bombers then hold picks No.28, No.46 and No.65. They would likely need two second-round picks to land both Smith and Saad
  • The Bombers could be reluctant to trade their future picks, given the strength of the 2018 talent pool

Saints flag interest in Tomlinson

Intrigue surrounds the future of Greater Western Sydney tall Adam Tomlinson, who has attracted the interest of St Kilda.

Tomlinson is contracted for the next two seasons after committing to the Giants in February, but rival clubs believe he could be convinced to move for more opportunities with a long-term offer.

The Saints have not tabled a five-year offer for the 24-year-old as has been reported, but they have confirmed their interest and will meet with the Giants when talks officially open on Monday.  

Will the Giants trade him? It's understood the Giants view Tomlinson, who played 24 games this season, as a required player and would be unlikely to deal the hard-running tall.

What's he worth?

  • Tomlinson would demand a first-round pick. He has played 91 games and is entering the prime of his career at 24.
  • He was among the Giants' best players in the preliminary final loss to Richmond with 26 possessions and seven marks after moving onto a wing.
  • The Saints hold picks No.7 and No.8, giving them a strong base for negotiations.

What you also need to know

• Uncontracted Sydney defender Alex Johnson is hopeful of remaining with the Swans, most likely as a rookie. Johnson's manager, Nick Gieschen, remains in open dialogue with the Swans. Both parties are keen for the 2012 premiership player to continue his AFL career following an encouraging season, when he returned from his fifth knee reconstruction to play nine NEAFL games.

• Andrew Gaff will not be traded by West Coast. St Kilda and Hawthorn have been linked with the Victorian, but Eagles football manager Craig Vozzo said talk of a trade had "no merit and it isn't something either party has or will consider".

• St Kilda is keen to add depth to its tall defensive stocks and has held discussions with delisted Swan Michael Talia

• Hawthorn confirmed on Thursday it will accept a late draft pick to allow champion Luke Hodge to continue his career with the Brisbane Lions

For more trade news, visit the NAB AFL Trade Hub, brought to you by Anytime Fitness.