NOW 2017's trade period is over, club recruiters will quickly shift their focus to next year's talent pool and no players will be more closely monitored than prospective 2018 free agents Tom Lynch, Andrew Gaff and Rory Sloane.

Gold Coast spearhead Lynch, who turns 25 on October 31, is unmistakeably the jewel of the 2018 free agency group and clubs, particularly in his home state Victoria, are already circling.

There was speculation before this year's trade period that clubs were preparing to lure the 199cm forward home ahead of next season, but the Suns quickly nipped such talk in the bud.

Sloane and, in particular, Gaff were more strongly linked with moves home to Victoria over the past month, but such talk also amounted to nothing.

But with clubs such as St Kilda, North Melbourne and Carlton falling short in their bids to land an elite midfielder this year, Sloane and Gaff will continue to be pursued for as long as they remain unsigned.

Other 2018 free agents also made news this trade period.

West Coast inquired about Collingwood forward Alex Fasolo but their interest was shut down, Suns ruckman Tom Nicholls was put up for trade without any serious rival nibbles, and it emerged Andrew Swallow and Lindsay Thomas faced uncertain futures at North Melbourne.

AFL.com.au's preliminary 2018 free agency list

Adelaide

Richard Douglas

David Mackay

Andy Otten

Rory Sloane

Brodie Smith







Brisbane Lions

Rohan Bewick

Ryan Lester

Carlton

Marc Murphy

Kade Simpson

Collingwood

Jarryd Blair

Alex Fasolo

Tyson Goldsack

Ben Reid

Josh Thomas

Essendon

Tom Bellchambers

Fremantle

Hayden Ballantyne

Michael Johnson

David Mundy

Aaron Sandilands

Geelong

Cameron Guthrie

George Horlin-Smith

Harry Taylor

Gold Coast

Jarrod Harbrow

Tom Lynch

Tom Nicholls





Hawthorn

Shaun Burgoyne

Taylor Duryea

Paul Puopolo

Ryan Schoenmakers

Brendan Whitecross

Melbourne

Max Gawn

Neville Jetta

Tom McDonald

North Melbourne

Shaun Atley

Andrew Swallow

Lindsay Thomas

Scott Thompson

Sam Wright

Port Adelaide

Justin Westhoff

Richmond

Reece Conca

Ben Griffiths

Shaun Grigg

Dylan Grimes

Bachar Houli







St Kilda

Sam Gilbert

Swans

Heath Grundy

Jarrad McVeigh

Nick Smith

West Coast

Andrew Gaff

Shannon Hurn

Mark LeCras

Scott Lycett

Eric Mackenzie

Jeremy McGovern

Western Bulldogs

Luke Dahlhaus

Tom Liberatore

Dale Morris

Jordan Roughead

Mitch Wallis