St Kilda have an agonising decision after Hawthorn's stunning splash into the AFL trade period, making a play for wantaway Essendon tall Jake Carlisle.
The three-time reigning premiers have reportedly registered their interest in Carlisle, 24, with the Bombers as part of a lucrative three-way deal that would give Essendon a dominant draft position.
After completing a deal to send Jake Melksham to Melbourne for pick No.25 on Thursday, the Bombers could end up with five of the first 25 draft selections should the Hawks' audacious bid for Carlisle be accepted.
Fairfax Media first reported the deal, which involves young Hawk midfielder Jed Anderson heading to North Melbourne, with an exchange of picks that sends draft choices No.15 and No.18 to the Bombers.
It leaves St Kilda - which Carlisle has previously nominated as his preferred destination - needing to trump Hawthorn's deal or miss out on the 198cm key defender.
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Essendon have previously stated a clean trade of St Kilda's first-round draft selection, pick No.5, would be enough to seal the deal, a proposal the Saints have dismissed until now.
Bombers list manager Adrian Dodoro told AFL Trade Radio the Bombers were focused on three-way deal given the allure of having five top picks.
"We're not committed to seeing if we can get this deal done ... we'd be happy to do the deal," he said.
"If you get a cluster of picks, you can set your club up and it's something we haven't had for a number of years."
It's understood Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson spent his day lobbying Carlisle to change his preference to the premiers.
Hawthorn's bold bid for Carlisle is the latest in a string of off-season moves for key players at struggling clubs.
Melbourne defender James Frawley moved to the Hawks last season, with ruckman Ben McEvoy joining as part of a trade from St Kilda in 2013.
Jack Gunston (Adelaide) and Brian Lake (Western Bulldogs) also left clubs on the bottom third of the AFL ladder to join Alastair Clarkson's side.
The Bombers were the centre of trade activity on Thursday, also signing Matthew Leuenberger on three-year deal.
Brisbane will receive a compensatory pick at the end of the second round for the deal.
Bombers coach John Worsfold suggested he saw the club's ruck division as performing poorly in 2015, making the signing a priority.
"Matthew provides us with a really strong and agile ruck option, he has more than 100 games of experience, so we're really pleased he's signed with the club," he said.
In other trade news on Thursday, Anzac Medallist Paul Seedsman nominated Adelaide as his club of choice, while Demon high flier Jeremy Howe could go the other way, choosing Collingwood as his preferred destination.
