The manager of Greater Western Sydney Giants forward Cam McCarthy hopes a trade can be reached with the Fremantle Dockers within the next fortnight.

McCarthy, 21, has spent the 2016 AFL season out of the game dealing with mental health issues.

The Dockers tried to engineer a deal for him during last season's trade period, but GWS played hard ball with the talented forward.

It is understood Fremantle offered the Giants its first-round draft pick from last year in exchange for McCarthy, as well as this season's first-rounder, which is now set to be selection three.

But with McCarthy desperate to play in Perth to continue his recovery, GWS is unlikely to get anywhere near that time of compensation this time.

"I am hoping in this next couple of weeks they will come to a resolution," McCarthy's manager Colin Young said.

"I am thinking both parties will be a bit smart [in] how we go forward because Cam's health from last year is obviously not as strong.

"That is probably why we went really hard at getting a trade done [last year] — more than any other trade I have ever done."

Young said it was not a case of McCarthy simply wanting to return home.

"He was suffering a disease called adjustment disorder, and if you Google that you will find out about the stress and emotion of being away, and that was probably the main reason for him and his family to get that trade done," he said.

Young believed the offer the Dockers put forward last year was a good one.

"Most clubs were saying it should get done with two picks, the two first-rounders. Obviously they had to stand and dig in because of [Tom] Boyd, and it is a business," he said.

Hawk Brad Hill also targets Freo move

It is set to be a busy trade period for Fremantle, with triple-premiership player Brad Hill officially requesting a trade from the Hawthorn.

The 23-year-old is contracted for another season at the Hawks, but wants to return home to Perth.

Hill's manager Tom Pretroro would not rule out a move to West Coast, but said Hill would like to play alongside his brother Stephen at the Dockers.

"That would obviously be a big attraction to him, but Brad also understands that he is contracted to Hawthorn and Hawthorn have to get what is best," Pretroro said.

Meanwhile, free agent Fremantle forward Chris Mayne is expected to sign with a Victorian club, while veteran Hayden Ballantyne is also exploring his options away from the Dockers, with the Eagles a possible destination.