Gaff going, likely to break news on Friday While the race for heartbroken suspended Eagle Andrew Gaff has publicly come down to two, it appears North Melbourne has won the race for the gifted Victorian. Gaff's agent revealed at a Spring Racing Carnival event in Melbourne on Tuesday his client would play for either the Roos or West Coast, with an announcement likely to come at or just before the 2018 premiers hold their club champion awards on Friday night. The All-Australian wingman was conspicously quiet during the AFL finals, with a move home likely via the massive offer from North Melbourne. AFL Trade Radio tweeted on Wednesday morning that West Coast players were told Gaff was on his way to North Melbourne. The Roos look to have snared Port running machine Jared Polec, who was reportedly told by his new North Melbourne teammates that the star Eagles wingman was on his way to Arden Street too.

Gaff's manager Robbie D'Orazio from Connor Sports told the AFL website his client was emotional watching the Eagles win the premiership and parade the 2018 cup after their stirring victory over Collingwood last Saturday. "Paul (Connors) and I will both sit with him when the time is right and he'll tell us (his decision). He's his own person," he said. "(But) I feel sorry for him. He's finding it difficult... his team has just won a premiership and he couldn't be part of it. "He's working through that with his family and partner. We still don't know." "You guys will find out when we do, because we still don't know."

Asked if Gaff's choice was a two-horse race between West Coast and North Melbourne, D'Orazio stalled in the gates momentarily before replying "yep". Has Lachie told Lyon he wants out? Another star from the west is also likely to wait until the day of his club's fairest-and-best count before announcing a departure. Lachie Neale has made no secret of his desire to move to Brisbane, paving the way for Fremantle to snare Brisbane's No. 4 draft pick to use in any deal for Jesse Hogan. Lachie Neale has reportedly told Ross Lyon he wants out. Credit:Pat Scala

Neale is likely to make his intentions known at or just before Fremantle's club champion awards on Saturday night. Reports on Wednesday suggested Neale had told Dockers coach Ross Lyon on the weekend he wanted the club to explore a trade with the Lions. "I can tell you Neale went to Ross Lyon and Steve Rosich at Fremantle over the weekend and told them that he is going to the Brisbane Lions," Triple M reporter Tom Browne said on Wednesday. "He’s already requested that trade, and it’s got flow-on effects."

Hogan's move west a win-win

The fallout from the Neale trade will likely land Claremont product Jesse Hogan to Freo, after he officially told Melbourne he wants them to explore a trade that will land him home. Melbourne football manager Josh Mahoney confirmed on AFL Trade Radio on Tuesday afternoon the talented forward had told the club he wants out and a move may be a win-win for both. Mahoney even revealed the Demons would need to move Hogan on anyway if they wanted to land Gold Coast captain Steven May in next week's trade period. Jesse Hogan has had a tough few years and wants to return home. Credit:AAP "Not sure at the moment, we'll have a conversation about where he's going. He's going to meet with a few different people but he's a chance to leave at this stage," Mahoney said.

"Jesse's got a bit of thinking to do over the new few days ... he's at the stage of his career where he's got to work out what's best for him and one option he wants to consider is going back to Perth and he's going to take the next few days to think about that. "It's certainly a chance at this stage. Through his management he'll come back to us before the trade period starts on Monday." The 195cm Demons full forward was having a great 2018 before injury ended his season as Melbourne charged to its first finals appearance since 2006. A sticking point to any trade home is Melbourne's insistence on two first-round draft picks for the 23-year-old, who they regard as one of the league's most talented forwards. Hogan's stats after 71 games are better than Jack Riewoldt, Tom Hawkins and Tom Lynch - who announced on Tuesday he wants to be a Tiger - at the same point in their careers.

Fremantle has pick 5 and could secure pick 4 from Brisbane in exchange for Lachie Neale to package a deal to satisfy the Dees, while the Eagles would likely secure two first-round compensation picks if Gaff or Lycett leave. Hogan is contracted for one more year but has endured a horrid time off the field since 2017, losing his father to cancer then battling his own cancer scare shortly after. "Jesse has had a lot of stuff going on in his life and I haven’t broached it (trade) with him, but whether it’s a fresh start and that’s what he is after (that is fine)," Dees captain Jones said. "He would know how much we love him as teammates and as mates but some of these decisions are outside of that. "He has got to consider family, friends and obviously what’s best for his own performance as a footballer and a person.

"If he has made that decision it’s something I would support him with." KEY FORWARD STATS (after 71 AFL games):

Jesse Hogan - 15 disposals, 6 marks, 2 goals, 6.6 score involvements

Lance Franklin - 13 disposals, 5 marks, 2.8 goals, 7 score involvements

Tom Hawkins - 11 disposals, 5 marks, 1.2 goals, 5.3 score involvements

Jack Riewoldt - 11 disposals, 5 marks, 2 goals, 5.6 score involvements

Tom Lynch - 14 disposals, 5 marks, 1.4 goals, 5.4 score involvements

Manager says Langdon will shop around Fears Tom Langdon could join his brother Ed at Fremantle next season and renewed interest from Melbourne and Hawthorn in Gold Coast captain Steven May have prompted Collingwood's sudden interest in disgrunted Bulldogs full back Marcus Adams. Langdon was one of his side's best in Saturday's devastating loss but is out of contract at Collingwood, with Fremantle rumoured to be offering the Victorian a five-year, $600,000 contract.

Tom Langdon (left) had a great finals series for Collingwood but is out of contract. Credit:AAP West Australian Adams, 25, is contracted to 2020 but is understood to want a fresh start after a restricted 2018 when he managed only six games due to ankle and shoulder injuries. Langdon's manager, former Essendon champion Scott Lucas, said on Wednesday the offer from Collingwood had arrived a little later than hoped. "We have received an offer for Tom so that's something for Tom to consider," Lucas told Macquarie Sports Radio. "The reality is when a club that a player is at delays that (negotiations) for so long we need to be proactive and discuss his options elsewhere."

"I think it's fair to say they've been into other players from other clubs. "Tom has finished the year off so very well and that certainly doesn't hurt and we've got to weigh that all up. "We couldn't get to this stage of the year and Collingwood say, 'Unfortunately we don't have an offer,' therefore we start our work then. "Our work needs to start a long time ago."

Ruckman keen to Lobb west

The manager of Giants ruckman Rory Lobb said the pull of home was strong but wasn't sure if the 207cm Swan Districts product would get there before his contract expires in 2020. Lobb met West Coast officials last week and his manager Nick Gieschen told AFL Trade Radio he would like to return to WA if an opportunity arose. "Rory's been there for five years now and has a really close, tight-knit family back in Perth," Gieschen said. Rory Lobb wants to return home to WA but is contracted to GWS until 2020. Credit:AAP "If the opportunity comes up this year, he would like to get back.

"If it's not this year, he's out of contract next year and he would like to go back home at some stage." Any play for Lobb would likely require a first-round draft pick, which West Coast could attain via compensation from the AFL if either of the club's restricted free agents Gaff or Lycett depart. Lobb has played 74 games since being drafted at pick 19 in the 2013 draft by GWS, where he has averaged 11 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackles and almost a goal per game.

Another brick in the Wall Okay so Robert Walls hung up the boots in 1980 but West Coast fans might get a giggle from his latest move ... to perennial cellar dwellers Carlton!