THE West Coast Eagles have expressed interest in exiled GWS Giants forward Cameron McCarthy, who is likely to be traded back to a Western Australian club at season’s end.

McCarthy, who had sought a trade to Fremantle last year and has stayed back in Perth to deal with life issues, is also of interest to the Eagles, who see McCarthy as a potential third marking forward to support Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling.

But Fremantle remains the clear frontrunner for McCarthy, who has been training with WAFL club South Fremantle. He was recently visited by Greater Western Sydney coach Leon Cameron and when the Giants played the Dockers at Domain Stadium.

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It is understood that GWS has already had a conversation with the Dockers about McCarthy, who is contracted for 2017 and would have to be released by the Giants to get his wish to play for a team in his home state.

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The prospect of some interest from the Eagles would be welcome news for the Giants, who know there is little chance of McCarthy returning to Sydney given his circumstances, but can only gain if there is more than one bidder for the talented young forward.

Fremantle offered this year’s first round pick and pick No. 22 for McCarthy last October, when the Giants refused to trade him, averting a very costly deal for the Dockers, who are on the bottom and would have been giving up pick No. 1 based on the current ladder.

There is no chance that the Dockers will part for their first draft pick for McCarthy this year, given they are set for a very early choice.

Fremantle also cannot trade its second round pick, because it has already traded this 2016 choice as part of a trade with Gold Coast last year.