Jacob Hopper will sign a two-year deal at GWS as early as this week in a major boost for the club.

The Giants have always been confident he will stay and foxfooty.com.au understands all that’s left is for the midfielder to pick up a pen and sign his name on the dotted line.

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The two-season arrangement will take him to free agency at the end of 2023, in line with other gun on-ballers Clayton Oliver, Callum Mills and Darcy Parish.

Oliver, Mills, Parish and Hopper were all selected in the top 10 of the 2015 draft, while fellow first round picks Harry McKay and Jade Gresham are also due to become restricted free agents at the same time.

Hopper’s soon-to-be confirmed commitment to GWS takes his name off 17 whiteboards around the country, leaving a host of other big-bodied on-ballers up for grabs.

Some are delisted free agents, others are restricted or unrestricted free agents and some are gettable via trades.

Luke Dunstan parted ways with St Kilda recently after 116 games, despite notching numbers not dissimilar to 2021 than All-Australian squad member Jarryd Lyons, who recently penned a contract extension at Brisbane.

Gold Coast will consider Dunstan – maybe even as a rookie – but first needs to find a new home for Will Brodie, who has one year remaining on his juicy contract.

Both the club and player would jump at a trade if a suitor popped up, though Brodie – Pick 9 in 2016 – would need to accept a pay cut to find a new home.

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Carlton’s interest in George Hewett is real, as is the salary cap squeeze impacting Luke Parker’s contract standoff. As foxfooty.com.au first reported on August 3, Parker is looking for certainty and reward for loyalty and consistency, but the Swans are yet to come to the party.

Rival clubs believe the 28-year-old wants four years at $700,000 per season but the Swans have refused to budge on two seasons at $500,000 per year. The stalemate continues …

At Adelaide, restricted free agent Matt Crouch is open to a move under the right circumstances but hasn’t officially told the club of his intentions yet. The Crows, while happy to keep the midfielder on a two-year deal, would let him go if it meant they could get adequate compensation back in return. They are awaiting his answer. A crosstown move to Alberton is not out of the question.

North Melbourne midfielder-turned-winger Trent Dumont is also a free agent, but of the unrestricted variety. South Australian-born, the 26-year-old appeals is a chance to get to Port Adelaide, but he is not front of mind for the club. As reported by foxfooty.com.au, the Power also had broad interest in Jack Billings, though he looks more likely to commit to a four-year deal now.

Billings’ teammate Seb Ross however is in limbo. The two-time best and fairest and free agent wants more than two years with triggers for a third season, but the Saints are holding firm on their offer. The cousin of Jobe Watson, he has links to Essendon — a club player managers believe is searching for another midfielder and a key forward in the off-season. Though it will not be Josh Dunkley, who has given his commitment to the Dogs after asking for a trade last season.

In the west, Connor Blakely is contracted for next year but no certainty to be at Fremantle if an opportunity elsewhere arises, while Jack Redden is a free agent at West Coast.

In Brisbane, Rhys Mathieson’s management and the club have opened talks on a new deal, while Daniel Howe’s future at Hawthorn is unclear.

The Western Bulldogs have offered a multi-year deal to Pat Lipinski, but he still might look to go elsewhere for opportunity. The same applies to Mitch Wallis, who has been out of favour for most of 2021 despite being vice-captain.

Wallis knocked back a four-year deal from Brisbane at the end of 2019 and signed for two at the Dogs.

Foxfooty.com.au contacted multiple list managers on Wednesday and all said the same thing: There is a glut of midfielders – mostly big-bodied, inside on-ballers – who are seeking new homes. The only problem is very few clubs have the money to pay for them.

Meanwhile, Rory Lobb has two years remaining on a deal at Fremantle but would be keen on a move if a club was willing to offer him three or more seasons on similar money. So far there are no takers, though Gold Coast would consider him to partner Ben King if he was willing to accept a more substantial pay cut. If not, he will be at the Dockers in 2021.

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