The AFL trade dominoes are falling thick and fast, with Sydney vice-captain Dan Hannebery among the big names expected to complete their mooted moves long before next week's deadline.
Trade period closes at 8.30pm AEDT next Wednesday but several clubs got down to business on a busy third day of the off-season frenzy.
Adelaide forward Mitch McGovern, Port Adelaide's Jared Polec and Jasper Pittard, Swans speedster Gary Rohan, St Kilda ruckman Tom Hickey and North Melbourne's Ryan Clarke all found new homes on Wednesday.
The trades had a knock-on effect, advancing negotiations on several fronts.
The Swans, who featured in the three-club deal that sent McGovern to Carlton then essentially swapped Rohan for Clarke, are now in a better position to finalise a trade for Hannebery.
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Hannebery, who has three years to run on his current contract, is fully expected to become a Saint soon.
"We would like to think it's close to being done," Swans football manager Tom Harley said on AFL Trade Radio.
"The list managers sat down this afternoon. We would expect something to be done shortly."
The Saints have also been freed-up to invest more time in Hannebery talks.
GWS gun Dylan Shiel confirmed on Tuesday he'd chosen Essendon ahead of St Kilda and other suitors, while the Saints offloaded Hickey on Wednesday morning.
The Eagles, desperate to beef up their ruck depth given Scott Lycett's departure and Nic Naitanui's knee injury, swapped pick No.39 and a future fourth-round pick in exchange for Hickey, pick No.60 and a future fourth-round selection.
"It's exciting to not be frightened of the flight over to Perth to face Nic Nat," Hickey joked.
"It almost seems a bit too good to be true, to be able to come and play for the reigning premiers."
Melbourne's Dom Tyson is expected to join North soon but the Demons have locked away midfielder Aaron vandenBerg, who considered a shift to Sydney before signing a contract extension that runs until the end of the 2021 season.
A deal between Essendon and the Giants regarding Shiel, who has a year to run on his current contract, will require plenty of brokering.
Port had little interest in posturing regarding Polec. They parted with the midfielder, Pittard and pick No.48 in exchange for North Melbourne's pick No.11 and a future fourth-round selection.
The Blues acquired McGovern and a future third-round pick from the Crows.
Adelaide's compensation for losing McGovern was the Swans' first-round pick (No.13), a future fifth-round selection from Carlton plus SANFL talent Shane McAdam (one of the Blues' pre-draft access picks).
Sydney received picks No.26 and No.28 from the Blues, and No.40 from the Crows.
Brisbane traded picks No.24, No.58 and No.79 to Gold Coast in exchange for selections No.32, No.41, No.44 and No.77.
The Lions are ramping up their pursuit of Fremantle's reigning best and fairest Lachie Neale.
