THE 2018 Trade Period officially gets underway on Friday with free agency deals expected to be announced as early as today.

Here’s the latest trade period news.

BULLDOGS OFFICIALLY INTERESTED IN WINGARD TRADE

THE Western Bulldogs have gone public in their pursuit of Power star Chad Wingard.

The Western Bulldogs have confirmed they are interested in recruiting the two- time All Australian, but it remains unclear whether Wingard wants to leave the Power.

He posted a cryptic message on Thursday which only further clouded his immediate future.

“You’ll hear my side of the story when the time is right dw (don’t worry) about that,” Wingard posted on Instagram.

“But unless a statement comes from me or my management don’t listen to them.

“Thank you for all the support over the last couple of week it means a lot.”

Also on Thursday, Bulldogs list manager Sam Power said they would put the question officially to Port next Monday when the trade period starts.

“There is a lot to play out and a lot of movement through the trade period, but we’re always looking to improve our list,” Power told the AFL website.

“We definitely have some interest in Chad.”

It comes less than one week since reports emerged claiming Wingard has been forced to back down on his intent to seek a release from the Power after failing to attract any mega-rich contract offers.

Those reports have since been denied by Wingard’s management.

Reports earlier this week indicated Wingard was hoping to receive a long term contract for at least four years worth up to $1 million per season.

Wingard could still choose to fulfil the final year of his contract at Port Adelaide where he would become eligible for free agency heading into the 2019 trade period.

Wingard is also reliant on his future club being able to broker a trade agreement with Port Adelaide.

Bombers great Matthew Lloyd told AFL Trade Radio on Friday morning the Bulldogs would likely have to cough up their No. 6 draft pick to get a deal done for Wingard.

“I think it’s a great deal for both clubs,” Lloyd said.

“The Western Bulldogs need some pizzaz and I think they need something to come in.

“They’ve obviously lost some players and at this time I’m just not sure where they’re at.

“They’ve got (Marcus) Bontempelli, Lachie Hunter and (Jackson) Macrae, and then it drops off a fair bit from there.”

CATS’ STAR OFFICIALLY REQUESTS TRADE

GEELONG revelation Tim Kelly has officially requested a trade from the Cats.

The 24-year-old mature age recruit finished second in the Cats’ best and fairest this week, but remained tight-lipped when asked about his future on Thursday night.

After a breakthrough season for the Cats, Kelly has been heavily linked with a return home to Western Australia with either Fremantle or West Coast.

Kelly has one season remaining on his contract with the Cats — but will force the club into an exchange.

Kelly’s request was confirmed on Friday morning.

Channel 7’s Mark Stevens said on Thursday that Kelly is expected to end up at the Eagles.

“It is farewell season and tonight’s certainly looming as the last official function at Geelong for gun midfielder Tim Kelly,” Stevens told Channel 7.

“Kelly I believe is poised to announce in the next 48 hours that he wants to be traded back to West Coast, basically return home to Perth.

“There is a suggestion Kelly has already made the coaches at Geelong aware of this.

“He’s been so good in his first year down at Geelong, he could finish top three tonight (Kelly was equal-second), an amazing effort … he could still stay if a trade can’t be worked out, a good result here tonight will certainly underline his value.”

Melbourne legend Garry Lyon cautioned against clubs throwing first round draft picks at the Cats for Kelly’s signature.

If the Dockers lose Lachie Neale to the Lions this trade period the club would likely be compensated with the No. 6 draft pick — a price Lyon says is too high to recruit Kelly.

“Personally, I think that’s overs for Tim Kelly on the basis of one-year,” Lyon told SEN Breakfast.

“What about this scenario if Geelong say you’re staying Tim, and then at the end of next year if everyone is so certain that you’re going home, we will deal with either Fremantle or West Coast and they put their best deal forward.”

HUGE RAMIFICATIONS OF NO. 1 PICK TRADE

GWS will reportedly look to strong-arm Carlton into coughing up its No. 1 draft pick in a trade for star midfielder Dylan Shiel.

St Kilda and Carlton have both reportedly offered Shiel deals worth up to $1.3 million per season — in offers that would make the 25-year-old one of the highest paid players in the game.

Hawthorn is also reported to be right in the mix, despite being unable to challenge the mega-rich offers from the Blues and Saints.

However, with Shiel still contracted to GWS for the 2019 season, the Giants are still holding a few trump cards up their sleeve.

The Herald Sun reported on Friday, the Giants will actively pursue Carlton’s prized No. 1 pick at this year’s draft in a deal for Shiel.

The report outlines Carlton’s difficult position.

In a multi-legged deal, the Giants will reportedly offer their No. 13 draft pick and Shiel in exchange for and the Blues’ No. 1 overall pick and a second-round pick.

The No. 13 pick could then be used by the Blues to on-sell to Adelaide in exchange for key tall Mitch McGovern.

However, the move is a huge gamble for the Blues with highly-rated Geelong Falcons talent Sam Walsh — the teenager expected to go No. 1 at this year’s draft.

The Blues are instead expected to offer a counter-proposal which would allow them to hold onto their No. 1 pick and still find a way to grab Shiel.

EAGLES PREMIERSHIP WINNER’S MASSIVE DEAL AT PORT

EAGLES premiership winner Scott Lycett has reportedly completed a move to Port Adelaide on a five-year deal.

The star tall reportedly passed his medical at Port Adelaide on Thursday and could be the first restricted free agent to have paperwork submitted with the AFL on Friday.

Reports on Friday morning claimed Lycett’s restricted free agency move to the Power still allows West Coast an opportunity to match the deal offered by Port Adelaide, but the club will not stand in the way of the long-term contract agreement.

The move was first reported by Port great Kane Cornes.