The Giants and Fremantle have discussed a deal that would see the Dockers give GWS pick 3 in this year's draft, in return for pick 7 and forward Cameron McCarthy.

The Dockers are unlikely to do that deal without having something more worked into it, but it is among a number of scenarios the clubs have been discussing.

They have also explored the idea of working future picks into the deal, and looked at McCarthy's standalone worth, with a deal believed to be close.

Separately, Brisbane and the Suns have discussed a trade that would see Gold Coast take the Lions' pick 2 in the draft, in exchange for two picks inside the top 10.

Brisbane defender Pearce Hanley, who has met with the Suns, could also form part of that trade.

Gold Coast currently holds picks 4 and 8, and are hoping to acquire Richmond's pick 6 in a deal for midfielder Dion Prestia.

While the Tigers would like to hold onto that selection, it is becoming increasingly unlikely they will be able to fulfil their commitment to Prestia without using it as part of the deal.

Such trades would enable the Giants and Suns to avoid having to match top three bids for academy players Will Setterfield (GWS) and Jack Bowes (Gold Coast).

Unless Essendon bid on one or both players using the No. 1 pick, which is unlikely, both clubs would be able to take their pick of the next best draftees, such as Andrew McGrath, Hugh McCluggage, Ben Ainsworth, Tim Taranto and Sam Petrevski-Seton.

They would then be able to match bids for their academy players using the points attached to later selections.

The Giants are also hoping to acquire Carlton's pick 5 as part of a deal for defender Caleb Marchbank and could go into the draft holding picks 3 and 5.

The possibility remains that Bryce Gibbs will move to Adelaide, a trade that would get the Blues straight back into the first round.

The Blues could pass the Crows' first round pick - 13 - onto the Giants for Marchbank should that occur.

Carlton would need to be compensated with more than merely Marchbank if they were to move pick 5.

Fremantle are hoping to use their free agency compensation for Chris Mayne, who appears Collingwood-bound, on Hawthorn runner Bradley Hill.

Gaining another pick from the Giants, who have 15 and 16 as well 32 and 34 in the second round, would get them into the second round, where they currently don't hold a pick.

The Dockers are also keen on Joel Hamling, though they expect the defender to re-sign with the Dogs after his excellent finals campaign.

A bid for Setterfield will almost certainly come before pick 15, meaning the Giants will be keen to hold onto enough draft 'points' to acquire him.

Midfielder Harry Perryman is another academy player who could attract a reasonably early bid.

The AFL changed the bidding system this year, ruling that the number of picks a club takes into a draft must match the number of available spots on their list.

The change was made to discourage northern clubs from trading down the order to acquire extra draft points.

Last year, GWS and Brisbane went into the draft holding considerably more draft picks than available list spots.

In other news, Richmond will release forward Ty Vickery to Hawthorn as a free agent on Monday.

Vickery accepted a two-year deal at close to $500,000 per year to play for the Hawks.

The Tigers had three days to decide whether to match the offer and force a trade but have opted to take the compensation pick instead.

Mayne and Daniel Wells are expected to accept free agency offers from the Magpies on Monday.

North Melbourne has offered a three-year deal to Mayne, but the Pies' offer is four years at close to two-million dollar contract.

Geelong has also indicated interest in Wells, who wanted to wait until after North's best and fairest last Friday to announce his intentions.