Baker, from Western Australia, has been courted in the past by both Fremantle and West Coast. He fits the Dockers’ age profile best, and they have three first-round selections this year, but the Eagles – who appointed Richmond’s ex-national recruiting manager Matt Clarke as list boss in February – would love to add a high-quality local product to fast-track their rebuild.

Ryan, who is part of the club’s post-Jack Riewoldt plans in attack, is getting near to finalising a new multi-year contract, according to two sources knowledgeable with the situation who spoke anonymously because the deal was not done yet.

This column revealed in April last year that Nankervis, 29, had quietly reached a contract trigger to extend his stay until this season, but discussions are now under way for a longer-term arrangement for the captain this time.

Prestia, Grimes, Graham, Rioli and fellow out-of-contract Tiger Matt Coulthard are all Kapital Sports Group clients. Dual premiership player Graham, who captained South Australia at under-18 level, toured Port Adelaide’s Alberton facilities after the 2022 season before the Power prioritised trading for Jason Horne-Francis.

West Australian defender Kaleb Smith, the No.49 pick in the 2022 draft, privately extended until next year after a foot stress fracture ruined his debut season.

Pickett’s future is clouded after he was charged in connection to a spate of thefts across Western Australia from December 2022 to January 2023.

The 32-year-old Tiger has not entered a plea. His case is next due to come before the court on March 27, but Pickett has continued to play throughout this period.

Richmond already locked away some of their leading players, including Shai Bolton (2028), Daniel Rioli and Jayden Short (2027), and Nick Vlastuin (2026), while the likes of Noah Balta, Nathan Broad and Josh Gibcus are out of contract next year. Gibcus, a top-10 draft pick and one of the club’s brightest prospects, could be a candidate to extend early.

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They gave up a bevy of high-end draft picks to bring in ex-Giants Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper in the 2022 trade period on seven-year deals. However, they are in a good position for the 2024 draft, with their own first-round selection, plus two in the second round, and three in each of the third and fourth rounds, as a result of trades last year.

Then-head recruiter Clarke said at the time he expected the Tigers to bundle picks to try climbing the order.

“We had to strengthen our draft hand for next year [2024],” Clarke said.

“To get those picks into next year’s draft is going to put us in a great spot … and hopefully that will give us the opportunity to get right up in the front half of the draft.”

Giant contract offers on the way

Sam Taylor, an all-Australian key defender, is one of the AFL’s most attractive “pre-agents” this year and is certain to command massive offers, well in excess of $1 million over a long term from the Perth clubs and elsewhere if he is willing to test the market.

A senior GWS club source confirmed that the Giants and Taylor’s manager, Trevor Clisby, held some preliminary contract discussions a few weeks ago, with the Giants well aware of what Taylor would be offered – in Melbourne and WA – given the premium on key defenders, as evident in the hefty six-year contract that Essendon handed Ben McKay, whom Taylor is far ahead of on performance.

GWS know that Taylor is worth more than $1 million a season, on a long-term deal of several seasons.

While Taylor did not say outright he would sign a contract with the Giants, he gave a strong indication that he was happy with GWS and that he wanted to play for a successful team, which he said the Giants were well placed to be.

“I still feel like it’s ages away, wait and see, and I love it here at this club,” said Taylor, 24, when asked about his free agency next year.

“The Giants are a great group, I feel like we have a really bright future – there’s so many special players here and I feel like we can push for the next four or five years.

“I just want to play for a club that go out there and win games. I love winning and Giants are in a spot where we can do that and there’s no better feeling than playing finals and winning games and that’s what I want to do – I want to be at a like successful club and probably none better than the Giants at the moment.

“It’ll be a bit interesting (contract speculation) because I’ve usually like signed a year or two in advance, so I don’t mind what people say … it’s my decision.”

Taylor said his agent Clisby would “sort that out with (GWS football boss) Jason (McCartney). We’ll see how that goes.” He added: “Not really (in a rush). I’m more focused on playing footy, when it comes, it comes.

“I definitely not (going to) rush into it, but this club’s pretty good.”

Emerging Pie bets on himself

Reigning premiers Collingwood could not find a “round zero” spot for summer standout Fin Macrae, but the emerging on-baller joined teammates Patrick Lipinski and Darcy Cameron in extending his contract last week.

Macrae, the younger brother of All-Australian Bulldog Jack, was the No.19 pick in the 2020 draft but has played only 12 senior games since, in large part due to Collingwood’s midfield depth.

That looks likely to change after his sparkling pre-season, including putting on a centre-bounce clinic in the intraclub match in mid-February. Tom Mitchell was subbed out of the Pies’ loss to the Giants on Saturday night and could be vulnerable if coach Craig McRae wants to bring in the more dynamic Macrae.

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The 21-year-old is a 188-centimetre ball magnet who uses the Sherrin well and has improved his running capacity.

Macrae’s one-year extension ties him to Collingwood until the end of next season, buying him time to put together a compelling case for a longer, more lucrative deal. It was smart business from both parties.

Prospects go under microscope

The speed demon in this year’s AFL draft class can be revealed.

GWV Rebels midfielder Archie Taylor clocked the second-fastest 20-metre sprint time (2.83 seconds) in the Coates Talent League’s Rookie Me under-18 national pathway testing history, with records dating to 2015.

Only future Eagle Jack Petruccelle (2.82 seconds) has beaten that time in this particular testing, although they are both short of former Sun Joel Wilkinson’s scintillating 2.75-second performance at the 2010 draft combine.

Northern Knights defender Jett McLaughlan matched Brisbane Lions endurance king Harry Sharp’s 2019 record in the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test with a score of 22.4.

Richmond coach Adem Yze’s son, Noah, a 189-centimetre forward and potential Melbourne father-son selection this year, snuck into the top 10 for Oakleigh Chargers in the same test (20.8).

McLaughlan also placed in the top 10 in agility testing, while talented prospect Taj Hotton – brother of Saint Olli and son of ex-Pie and Blue Trent – was top 10 in four different tests, including finishing fifth for agility.

Players from the Victorian-based clubs took part in testing at Narrandjeri Stadium in Thornbury on Saturday, ahead of the new season starting on March 23.

In a draft tipped to be midfielder-heavy at the top, one key forward already turning recruiters’ heads is Sandringham’s 193-centimetre target Harry Armstrong.

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