Trade talk: Lewis, Hogan, King set key forward carousel in motion

The key forward carousel is set to take flight in full force in the weeks leading into trade period.

With free agency decisions looming, a number of tall forwards are holding interest from around the competition, with a change of colours inevitable for a range of the game’s best targets.

SEN’s Sam Edmund has revealed the first of the carousels, made up of three key talls that are set to play a huge role in the shaping of this season’s trade period.

Mitch Lewis (Hawthorn)

“Now close to recommitting to Hawthorn despite Collingwood interest.”

Jesse Hogan (GWS)

“Collingwood, as we know, still in the market for some key forward support for Dan McStay and Jack Buller.

“That’s caused Collingwood to at least raise an interest in Jesse Hogan, the GWS unrestricted free agent, who, despite talks looking positive for so long at GWS, now faces an uncertain future with those negotiations breaking own in recent times.

“A gap between what is expected and what’s been given for Jesse Hogan has le other clubs like Collingwood – not on their own – to pick up the phone and raise an interest in the Coleman medallist and the former All-Australian.

“Jesse Hogan has got his head around playing for another club - it would be a fourth club - if a deal can’t be struck with GWS, which is his preference.

“At this stage, no guarantee.”

Ben King (Gold Coast)

“In and amongst all that, the biggest one of the lot, Ben King is now likely to leave Gold Coast and try to get to Hawthorn in this free agency period as well.

“Where Gold Coast finished this year will shape whether they accept compensation or whether they try to force a trade for Hawthorn for their star forward, who is on the way out and on the way back to Victoria.”

Further to Edmund’s report, the key forward carousel could go far beyond the three aforementioned targets.

Reports have suggested that Carlton have tabled a five-year deal for Sydney’s Joel Amartey, while also holding interest in GWS’ Max Gruzewski.

If Joel Amartey stays, interest in out-of-favour Swan Hayden McLean would surely persist, who has just a year left on his deal and has spent a majority of this season in the VFL.

Interest in Brisbane’s Logan Morris spreads wide, with his contract set to expire at the conclusion of next season, while Mitch Georgiades and Jake Stringer continue to weigh up their contract options.

Trade period commences on October 5.