Gold Coast dasher Adam Saad has requested a trade to the Bombers, joining Greater Western Sydney's Devon Smith in doing so, while exiled Western Bulldogs star Jake Stringer is also expected to ask to join the Dons.

Essendon have picks 11, 28, 46 and 65 in November's draft, and appear likely to need to use at least the first two of those, and possibly future picks in the 2018 "super draft" to land their targets. Contracted young tall Aaron Francis has been linked with a move back to South Australia, which would give Essendon greater flexibility to acquire the trio, but his manager Michael Doughty has insisted Francis will stay with the Bombers.

The Giants confirmed they were aware of Smith's decision on Thursday morning, with the 24-year-old choosing to overlook interest from Geelong, Collingwood, St Kilda and Carlton, the Pies having been among the keenest to land the Geelong Falcons product.

Smith's manager Ned Guy recently joined Collingwood as their list manager, thus Alex McDonald has taken over the GWS forward's dealings. It's understood no discussions over how a trade would look have opened between GWS and the Bombers, with club recruiting chiefs set to gather in Melbourne on Monday for the official commencement of the trade period.

Saad, 23, is contracted for 2018 and is eyeing a move back to Victoria, with the Pies and Blues having also been in the hunt for the Sun.

A mature-age rookie from Coburg, Saad has played 48 games for the Suns in three seasons, finishing 10th in the club's best and fairest this year. Saad is a devout Muslim, and cultural reasons have been identified as part of the reason for his request.

Smith - the No.14 pick in the 2011 national draft - has played 109 games for the Giants since making his debut in their inaugural game in 2012. He missed the preliminary final loss to Richmond at the expense of Steve Johnson, despite being fit to play.

Fairfax Media also understands Stringer is poised to choose Essendon as his preferred trade destination. Geelong have been considered the greatest threat to the Bombers acquiring the unsettled star during the trade period, but Stringer is leaning towards playing for John Worsfold's side over Chris Scott's. That is despite Stringer having had a one-on-one meeting with Geelong star Patrick Dangerfield at a Williamstown cafe this week.

As of Thursday afternoon the Bulldogs remained in the dark on Stringer's club of choice. Stringer has met players, coaches and officials from Essendon and Geelong over the past few weeks. While it is widely viewed that it would be untenable for Stringer to stay at the Whitten Oval, the Dogs are indicating they plan to play hard ball over him, and are willing to keep him in 2018 if a suitable trade cannot be found.

Stringer has had a tough 18 months at the Bulldogs despite his part in the 2016 premiership triumph. Off-field issues and a questionable attitude to his training have affected his on-field performance and the club has become impatient with the supremely talented forward.

He played 16 games in 2017, kicking 24 goals, finishing the year as the Dogs' equal leading goalkicker with Liam Picken.

The Bulldogs are expected to acquire Port Adelaide free agent Jackson Trengove when free agency opens on Friday, and have also been in the hunt for Trengove's close friend, Power speedster Jarman Impey, who has also been strongly linked with Hawthorn. The Dogs have been confident, too, of picking up out-of-contract Fremantle high-flyer Hayden Crozier.

Meanwhile Bulldogs forward Stewart Crameri remains in limbo. If the Bombers don't secure Stringer then Crameri is a greater chance of returning to Essendon, the club he played for between 2010 and 2013.

There is no contract offer on the table for Crameri from the Dogs. The 29-year-old only played two AFL games in an injury-plagued 2017 season, having missed all of 2016 due to suspension.

The Bombers' trade raid comes after comments in September by Essendon chief executive Xavier Campbell. He told Fairfax Media the club was preparing to have one of its busiest trade periods in recent memory.

Campbell said the club had predominantly favoured recruiting young talent from the draft of late, but it was ready to target established players more aggressively.

"We now have a greater flexibility with the way we have been able to manage our salary cap so that we can be a little more aggressive at the trade and free agency table," Campbell said.