Fremantle will focus on a trade for Cam McCarthy after decisions by fellow AFL forwards Jesse Hogan and Rory Lobb not to return to Western Australia.
Hogan gave Melbourne's rebuild a major boost on Tuesday when he signed a two-year contract extension, tying him to the Demons until the end of the 2019 season.
Lobb has done the same, killing off speculation of a move to Fremantle or West Coast in the upcoming trade period.
The Dockers are in the market for a forward after the the retirement of captain Matthew Pavlich.
They were also interested in WA-born Cale Hooker, who decided earlier this year to stay with Essendon.
Fremantle tried to recruit McCarthy last year from the GWS Giants, who played hard ball and knocked back their offer.
McCarthy then stood out of football this year because of mental health issues.
Giants list manager Craig Cameron said they were talking to the Dockers about a potential trade for the 21-year-old.
"We are having good faith discussions with Fremantle on him, but we haven't reached an undertaking that that's where he'll land," Cameron told AFL Trade Radio.
"We have a value on him and we're discussing it with Fremantle.
"He's still got a year to run on his contract ... so a trade has to be done for him to land where he wants to land."
Meanwhile, Travis Cloke doesn't think he needs to reinvent himself as a player to provide value to the Western Bulldogs if he gets his wish for a trade from Collingwood.
The Pies' four-time leading goal kicker was dropped three times this year by coach Nathan Buckley and managed just 13 games.
Elements of the 29-year-old's game had clearly been on the nose for Buckley, but Cloke doesn't believe he'll need to undergo a radical makeover to play a key role for Luke Beveridge.
"I don't think I need to reinvent myself," Cloke said.
"I've got strengths I need to work to ... obviously, my running is one of them and my marking.
"But there are some things I can improve in my game with a fresh start, a fresh challenge - I'm really looking forward to it."
Cloke dismissed suggestions he needed to drop some weight to play a wider-roaming role, adding his skinfold measurements were exactly where they needed to be this year.
