The chances of Western Bulldogs speedster and reigning Norm Smith medallist Jason Johannisen remaining at the Bulldogs beyond 2017 appear to be dwindling by the month.
Johannisen, 24, has put contract talks with the Bulldogs on hold until the end of the season, and is already attracting plenty of attention from other clubs.
But it is understood would-be suitors will have to fork out in the region of $800,000 per season to secure his services.
The West Australian, who forms such a potent, running combination off half-back with the likes of Bob Murphy and Easton Wood, has come into his own in the past two years with a series of eye-catching performances, culminating in his brilliant Grand Final.
But with a premiership and Norm Smith Medal under his belt, the lure of a big-money offer from elsewhere could tempt the South African-born talent away from Whitten Oval.
Johannisen's manager, Tim Galic of SMA Sports Agents, told AFL.com.au in March there had been no progress in his contract talks with the Dogs, with the parties remaining a long way apart over the terms of a new deal. Given the stalemate, Galic said he had told the Bulldogs he wanted to discontinue negotiations until the end of the season.
Johannisen is due to come out of contract at the end of this season, but will be one year shy of qualifying for free agency.
Nat Fyfe on the move?
On the subject of trade rumour, innuendo and speculation, a Perth radio station has made the sensational claim that Fremantle captain and Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe has agreed a multi-million dollar deal to play with St Kilda from next AFL season.
Fyfe's management company, Stride Sports, quickly issued a statement rebutting the claims, saying they were "100 per cent untrue".
Foxsports has previously reported that Fyfe, the 2015 Brownlow Medallist, has undertaken to talk to Fremantle first before entertaining any offers from rival clubs (of which there are certain to be many). As yet, those discussions have not begun with the Dockers.
What is known is this: Fyfe, who becomes a restricted free agent at the end of this season, has had a fraught relationship with some of his teammates, who in the past have seen him as a little aloof and inclined to spend more time with his helicopters than them. Since being handed the captaincy this year, he has worked hard at becoming more inclusive and team-oriented. It is also known that the Saints, initially under former list manager Chris Pelchen, have worked hard to clear space in their Total Player Payments cap for a monster play, exactly like this, and have been linked with Fyfe for several months.
Brad Fitzgerald, co-host of the 'Carmen & Fitzi' program on WA-based radio station 96FM, told his listeners on on Monday morning: "The offer is worth $1.5 million a season and it is - as far as legally wise - it's virtually accepted. He can't sign yet but it's basically a done deal and he is going to St Kilda."
Kangaroos relishing extra pressure
Veteran North Melbourne defender Lachie Hansen says last year's list overhaul has put the club's senior players "on our toes".
Hansen, out of contract at season's end, is relishing the pressure of holding his spot in the side after an injury-ravaged 2016 campaign.
The 28-year-old played just five matches last year, including the last four, as he languished in the VFL while also overcoming the effects of concussion.
"I definitely do feel the pressure. I only played five games last year and I was probably on the outer, so every game I play now I feel because I'm out of contract I'm just lapping it up at the moment and love being out there," Hansen told ESPN.
"I've just got to play games of footy I think. I've been able to get six games on the trot. Hopefully that [my contract] will take care of itself later in the year."
The Kangaroos last year controversially axed much-loved veterans Brent Harvey, Nick Dal Santo, Drew Petrie and Michael Firrito in-season, as it swiftly attempted to rejuvenate its list.
The dramatic culling, as well as the recent relegation of club elders Andrew Swallow and Lindsay Thomas, Hansen is becoming more aware of his AFL mortality.
"If you don't play well, you're gonna be out of the team. It's actually good for us older fellas that we have to play well to hold our spot," he said. "In previous years we might've had the luxury of staying in the team if you weren't playing well.
"I think we could see that with selection (in the VFL) this week of Andrew Swallow and Lindsay Thomas. They probably weren't performing to the level they needed to and have gone back and played really well in the twos."
Friendly fire
Melbourne's Jake Melksham tried to tell himself it was just another game when he took to the field against his former side, Essendon, on Sunday.
But that quickly changed when he was confronted by ex-team mate Michael Hurley.
"Hurls [Hurley] ran up to me before the bounce and got into me a little bit," Melksham told ESPN. "I can't remember what he said, but he was just bumping me. It was pretty funny. I just laughed. I know there was no aggression in it. He was just trying to have a laugh."
Melksham and Michael Hibberd, who both served 12-month WADA-imposed suspensions, defected to Melbourne in the wake of Essendon's explosive drugs scandal that engulfed the club.
Melksham sought a trade to the Dees following the 2015 season, while Hibberd joined him a year after. It was the first time the pair played against their old team, the Bombers, winning by 38 points.
"It was a little bit weird at the start. It was a fast-paced game, but after a couple of minutes it just became a normal game of footy," he said.
"[The week] hasn't been too different to be honest because I haven't been at the club for two years. Whereas if I played last year and this was my first game against them, it probably would've been a bit more nerve-racking. I was all right."
THIS WEEK'S MAJOR MILESTONES AND DISTINGUISHED DEEDS:
624 - Gold Coast coach Rodney Eade is due to participate in his 624th match as a player and coach this week, No.9 on the all-time list of Most Combined Games. He played 259 games for Hawthorn and the Brisbane Bears and coached 364 games for the Sydney Swans, Western Bulldogs and Gold Coast Suns. Kevin Sheedy is No.1 on the list on 919 games (251 games as a player and 668 games as a coach), with Michael Malthouse second on 892 games (174 and 718).
500 - Adelaide goalsneak Eddie Betts and Richmond full-forward Jack Riewoldt - opponents last weekend - need just one goal each in round 7 to reach 500 career goals.
40+ - Players who've most often racked up 40+ disposals: 21 - Gary Ablett jnr 14 - Greg Williams 13 - Dane Swan 10 - Robert Harvey
8 - The top eight as it stands after Rd 6, 2017 (and we tell you this because after Rd 6, 2016, the teams in the top eight did not change and ended up contesting the finals): Adelaide GWS Geelong Richmond Port Adelaide WCE Western Bulldogs Melbourne